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Containing 38 portraits of the most celebrated 
heroes of Napoleon's time. 

Drawn on Stone by the eminent Artist Louis Kurtz. Size 
of the picture 24 x 30 in., printed on the finest plate paper. 

The fol lowing: are the names included in the Engraving ; 



OUDINOT. 

ya:ndamivie, 
^macdohald, 

MONCEY. 
(IE.OUCHY, 
LEFEBYRE, 
.MOREAIT, 
KLEBER, 
DESAIX, 
MASSENxY 
LAN]NES, 



durog, bessieres, 

cambron:^e, montpiolon, 
beauharnais, murat, 

SMAPOLEON, VICTOR, 
RITSTAN, MORTIER, 

AITGEREAU, SOULT, 



JUNOT, 

BERTRAND. 

RAPP, 

SEBASTIANI, 

SITCHET, 



'P( )iNIAT( )W SKI. DAYOUST, 
SAYARY, BERTHIER, 



BERNADOTTE, 

DRUOT, 

CAULINCOITRT, 

KEY, 

GOUY. ST. CYR 

LASALLE. 



Published by j-*aul Sobolesk 

Vit T>('itrbort» St. Chicago, III. 




CHICAG-O: 

Schaefer (fe Kenny, Printers, 163 Madison St. 

1869. 
Copy right secured „ 








apoleon Sonaparte 



AND HIS MARSHALS. 



OXJDIIVOT. 



^|\UDINOT, Charles Nicholas, duke of Reggio, Marshal and peer of 
^^ France, born April 2, 1767, at Bar-sur-Ornain, of a respectable 
mercantile family. He entered the military service in his sixteenth 
year, was a zealous friend of the revolution, and distinguished 
himself in September, 1792, by the defence of the Castle of Bitche 
against the Prussians. Brave even to rashness, often and grieviously 
wounded, he rose by brilliant actions, to the rank of general of 
division in 1799. He contributed much to the victory of Zurich 
and was chief of the staff of Massena, to whom he gave important 
assistance at the siege of Genoa. In 1805 Oudinot obtained the 
command of the new corps of grenadiers. After the taking of Vienna 
he obtained the possession of the bridge of Tabor by snatching a 
lighted match from the hands of an Austrian artillerist. In 1807 
Napoleon raised him to the rank of Count. June 14, 1807, he made 
head against the Russian army at Friedland, until Napoleon arrived 
with his army to complete his victory. After the peace of Vienna, 
in 1809, Napoleon made him Marshal and Duke of Reggio. In 1812 



he commanded the twelfth corps, was for some months governor 
of Berlin, fought gloriously on the Dwina and Beresina, was severely- 
wounded, and escaped being taken only by his extraordinary courage. 
In the campaign of 1813, he lost (Aug. 12) the battle of Grossbeeren. 
He took part in the battle of Leipsic and most of the battles in 
1814. After the capitulation of Paris, he declared for the provisional 
government. Louis XVIII ajapointed him Commander in Chief of 
the grenadiers and royal chasseurs. During the hundred days he 
lived on his Estate. After the second restoration the king appointed 
him commander of the Parisian National Guard, an office which 
he lost at the suppression of that body, in 1827. In 1823 he was 
governor of Madrid. After the revolution of 1830 he gave a steady 
support to the government of Louis Philippe, who appointed him in 
May, 1839, to the office of Grand Chancellor of the Legion of 
Honor, and subsequently to succeed Marshal Moncey as governor 
of the Hotel of the Invalids, in 1842. Afcer the revolution of 1848 
he was apjDointed to command the French army sent against the 
Roman Republic, landed at Civita Vecchia, April 25, 1849, and took 
possession of Rome July 3. He died in Paris soon after. 

I^ANDAMME, Dominique, count of Unebourg, boi-n at Cassel 
xin 1771, was the son of an Apothecary. He owed a most rapid 
advancement to an almost unexampled courage. In 1792 he acted 
in the quality of a general of brigade. In 1799 was appointed 
general of division and commanded the left wing of the army of 
the Danube. Passed into Holland, and was successful there, 
distinguished himself at the passage of the Rhine, and in various 
memorable battles of 1800. In 1809, was very successful in 
campaign against Austria. On the 29th of August he was taken 
prisoner at Culm, by the Russian General Osterman. Was marched 
within twenty leagues of Siberia, and was treated by the Russians 
with ungenerous severity. In 1814 he returned to France. Napoleon 
on his landing, gave him the command of the 2nd division. His 
troops were in the actual pursuit of the enemy, when he learnt the 
defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. He retired to Ghent, but afterwards 
resided on his estate at Cassel. He died in 1830. 






;ACD0NALD, Etienne Jaques Joseph Alexander, marshal and 
Kvs peer of France, duke of Tarentum, Minister of State, and 
grand chancellor of the legion of honor, was born at Sancerre, in 
France, Nov. 17, 1765, and descended from a Scotch Highland family. 
His flither fought, with twenty other Macdonalds, at Culloden, in 
1745, for the Pretender. Charles Edward, kept him concealed for 
many weeks, and afterwards went to France. The young Macdonald 
entered the French service in 1V84, and was attached to the legion of 
the lieutenant general, count Maillebois, which was sent to Holland 
to support the opponeuts of the hereditary Landholder. He embraced 
the principles of the revolution, rose rapidly to the rank of brigadier 
general, in the war of 1792, and served with distinction in 1794 
under Pichegru, in the army of the North, in Holland and East 
Friesland. In 1796, he commanded at Dusseldorf and Cologne, as 
general of Division ; soon after joined the army of the Rhine, and at 
length of Italy, under Bonaparte, where he established his military 
reputation. After the peace of Campo-Formio, he was in the army 
under Berthier, which took possession of Rome and the states of the 
Church, and as governor of the latter he declared Rome a republic. 
But Mack advanced to Rome with 50,000 men, and Macdonald waS 
forced to fall back Avith his troops to the army of the French 
Commander in-Chief, Championnet. The latter was soon strong 
enough to venture an attack, and Macdonald contributed essentially 
to the victories at Trento, Mouterosi, Baccano, Calvi, and Civita 
Castellana. Dec. 14 he marched into Rome the second time. After 
the removal of Championnet, in the spring of 1799, he was made 
general of the French army of Naples. While he was here carrying 
on war against Cardinal Ruffo, and the Calabrians, Suwaroff and 
Melas had conquered Lombardy and had advanced to Turin. By 
skilful marches, Moreau defended the frontiers of France, and the 
passes to Genoa. He then advanced to form a junction with 
Macdonald, who had evacuated Lower Italy. But instead of 
pursuing his march, came by to Genoa. Macdonald, ambitious to 
defeat the enemy alone, marched through Modena, Parma and 
Piacenza, the road to Voghera. He, indeed, drove the Austrians 
under Hohenzollern, from their position at Modena, June 12, 1799; 



but Suwaroff and Melas pursued him over Tidone, June 11, at Trebia, 
not far from Piaeenza, and on tbe 18th and 19th totally defeated his 
army, exhausted with long marches and bloody actions. Macdonald 
was wounded and obliged to return to Tuscany, with his army 
reduced to 22,000 men. Moreau now restrained the conqueror from 
further pursuit, and Macdonald succeeded in ascending the Appenines 
and forcing his way along the coast to Genoa to Moreau. Soon after he 
went to Paris and co-operated in the revolution of the 18th Brumaire. 
Dec. 1, 1800, he conducted the corps of reserve over the Spluger 
into the Grisons, and entered the Valteline. After the peace of 
Luneville, he was for a time French xA.mbassador in Denmark, from 
whence he returned in 1803, and received the title of the Grand 
Officer of the Legion of honor. His zeal in defending Moreau 
prevented him from being made marshal of the Empire, amongst 
the generals on whom this office was first conferred, in 1804. In the 
campaign of 1809 he passed the Piave with the right wing of the 
Viceroy, took Laybach, and decided the victory of Wagram. In 
recompense for his services, in that action, the Emperor created him 
marshal of the field, adding, " I am principally indebted to you 
and my artillery guards for this victory." In 1810 he took the 
command of Augereau's division in Catalonia, and maintained his 
fame as a general both here and in the war against Russia, in 1812. 
The capitulation of the Prussians, under York, who belonged to his 
army, forced him to retreat upon Koenigsberg, Jan. 3, in 1813. In 
May, 1813, he took Merseburg, and was present in the battles of 
Lutzen and Bautzen, and was defeated by Blucher on the Katzbach, 
At Leipsic, Oct, 18 he commanded the 11th division. He also 
distinguished himself at Hanau, and in the bloody campaign between 
the Marne and the Seine. At the time of Napoleon's catastrophe, in 
1814, he had several audiences with the Emperor Alexander, in 
favor of the Emperor, Macdonald was the first to advise abdication 
after which he sent in his adherance to Louis XVIII. During the 
hundred days he resided on his estates. After Napoleon's final 
overthrow he was made chancellor of the legion of honor, and was 
.directed to disband the army of the Loire , He has distinguished 
Siimself in the chamber of peers, not less by the justness and liberalities 
of his sentiments than by his fidelity to the king and to the 
constitution. In 1825 he attended Charles X to the coronation at 



6 

Kheims, and afterwards visited England, Scotland and Ireland- After 
the revolution of July lived in retirement from public affairs, till his 
death, which took place on the 25th of September, 1840, at his 
chateau of Courcelles in the neighborbood of Guise. 

]m:o]N'cii:y. 

^I^I^OISrCEY, Bon Adrien Jeanot, Due de Conegliano, was the son 
Wi£>ii of an advocate, and was born in 1754, at Moncey, the village 
near Besancon. In 1874 his relatives yielding to his passion for a 
soldier's life, allowed him to enrol in the gendarmery of Luneville. 
He became captain in 1791. In 1794 we find him as general-in- 
chief, defeating the Spaniards at Villa Nova. Chancing to be at 
Paris at the revolution of 18th Brumaire, he zealously supported 
Napoleon, and thus opened a path to future preferment. lie was 
appointed by the first consul inspector general of the gendarmery 
and in 1804 was rewarded with a marshal's baton, the title of 
the Due de Conegliano, and the rank of the grand officer of the 
Legion of Honor. In 1802 he commanded in the Spanish province 
of Catalonia, but was recalled by Bonaparte to the command of 
the gendarmery. In 1812 he received the additional appointment of 
Commander-in-Chief of the Parisian National Guard, and was 
entrusted with the protection of the city during the Russian campaio-n 
of Napoleon. No one was more active during the defence of the 
capital in 1814. He organized the National Guard of Paris, and was 
one among the last to lay down arms after the capitulation of the 
city. At the beginning of the hundred days, his submission was 
tendered to the Bourbons, but was withdrawn as soon as Napoleon 
landed from Elba. He was nominated president of the commission 
for the trial of Marshal Ney in 1815, yet, rather than accej)tthis nom- 
ination, he chose to be deprived of all his titles and to liefor-4hree 
months in the Prison of Ham. In 1816 he was restored to his digni- 
ties, and was received also into the favor of the King; On the out- 
break ot the Spanish war in 1823, Moncey was far advanced in age, 
he accepted, however, the command of a division, and served in 
Catalonia ^with all the force and vigor of his prime. He died in 
April 1842. 



§.ROUCIIY, Emanuel, count, was born at Paris, 1Y66, entered 
5 the military service at 14 and in 1785 was appointed an officer 
in tlie King's body guard. On the breaking out of the revolution, 
he showed his attachment to liberal principles, left the guard in 
consequence, and served in the campaign of 1792 as commander of a 
regiment of dragoons. In the succeeding winter, he was j)laced at 
the head of the cavalry of the army of the Alps, and contributed 
essentially to the conquest of Savoy. He was then sent into Vendee 
where he distinguished himself on several occasions, but was 
obliged to leave the army in consequence of the decree of the 
convention excluding all nobles from any military command. In 
179-4 he was again sent into Yendee, with the rank of general of 
division, disappointed the attempts of the Emigrants at Quiberon, 
and co-operated vigorously with the measures of the general Hoclie. 
In 1797 he was appointed second in the command of the army 
destined for the invasion of Ireland. A storm dispersed the fleet 
and he arrived in the Bay of Bantry, with a small part of the land 
forces and a few ships. He determined, nevertheless, to land his 
forces; but the Eear-Admiral Bouvet, refused to comply and 
Grouchy was obliged to return to France without effecting anything. 
In 1798 he was ordered to join the army of Italy, and received the 
command of the citadel of Turin, and afterwards of all Piedmont, 
where he distinguished himself by his prudence, moderation, and 
firmness. In the following year his services contributed essentially 
to Moreau's victories in Germany, and the battle of Hohenlinden 
was gained chiefly by his energy and courage. Daring the trial of 
General Moreau, he manifested his sentiments in his favor in such a 
manner as to incur the displeasure of Napoleon, who continued 
indeed to employ him in the most dangerous and important enter- 
priz-^-s, without rewarding his services. In the campaign against 
Prussia, in 1806, and 1807, he commanded a cavalry corps, 
compelled the corps of prince Ilohenhole to capitulate at Prenzlau, 
and that of Blucher near Lucbeck, and distinguished himself at 
Friedland. From 1808 to the time of the Austrian war, he was 
governor of Madrid, was then attached to the army of Italy, pene- 
trated to Hungary and distinguished himself at the battle of 



Wagram. In reward for these important services he was created 
commander of iron crown, colonel general in the chasseurs, and 
grand officer of the Empire. Dm-ing the campaign in Eussia (1812) 
general Grouchy commanded one of the three cavalry corps of the 
grand arni}^, took an important part in all the great operations, 
covered the retreat to Smolensk, and received the command of the 
sacred squadroon, composed of generals and officers, which 
Napoleon had organized for the security of his person, in case of 
extremity. Offended by the refusal of the Emperor to confide to 
him the command of a division of Infantry, Grouchy retired from 
the service. But after the battle of Leipsic, and the disastrous 
retreat of the French from Germany, he offered to resume his post. 
Napoleon, while he permitted him to choose between the army of 
Piedmont and the cavalry, gave him to understand that he considered 
that he would be most useful at the head of the cavalry, the com- 
mand of which Grouchy, therefore, determined to accept. His 
brilliant services in the campaign of 1814, were rewarded with the 
baton of marshal. After the restoration he received no appointment 
and he therefore joined Napoleon at his return from Elba. In 1815, 
he received the command of the reserve cavalry of the grand army, 
80 squadroons. On the lYth of June he was detatched in pursuit of 
the Prussians, and on the 18tli, the day of the battle of Waterloo, was 
before Wavre. Napoleon accuses him of being the author of the 
defeat at Waterloo, by permitting two divisions of the Prussian 
army, under Blucher, to join the English forces. After the abdi- 
cation of the Emperor, marshal Grouchy proclaimed Napoleon II. 
He was one of the 19 general officers whose arrest was ordered by 
the ordinance of July 24, 1815, in consequence of which he retired 
to the United States, where he remained until he received permission 
to return to France. In his observations on the campaign of 1815 
published at Philadelj^hia, Grouchy has defended himself from the 
charges of the Emperor. 

g|^;EFEByPS, Francois, Joseph, duke of Dantzic, marshal and 
^^ peer of France, &c., born at Kufac, Upper Rhine, in 1 755 
after having served with distinction in the war of the Republic 



and the Empire, died in 1820. Having warmly embraced the new 
principles and distinguished himself by his prudence and firmness 
his promotion was rapid. In 1794 he was made general of 
division, and in the succeeding campaigns, continued to render 
himself conspicuous by his courage and military skill. He 
espoused the cause ot General Bonaparte, whose designs he was 
able to forward on the 18th Brumaire, as he had, at that time, the 
command of the Tth military division, which included Paris . His 
services on the occasion were rewarded by the dignities of Senator, 
marshal of the Empire and the grand cross of the legion of honor. 
He bore an important part in the victory of Jena, distinguished 
himself at Eylau and received the chief command at the siege 
of Dantzic, at which he gave the most brilliant proofs of genius 
and humanity. In 1808 he served in Spain; in 1809, again in 
Germany, and in the Prussian campaign commanded the imperial 
guard. After the abdication of the Emperor, the King created him 
peer, and during the hundred days E"apoleon included him in his 
upper chamber. His name was consequently erazed, after the 
second restoration ; but in 1 8 1 9 he was again summoned to take a seat. 
He died in Paris, Sept. 14, 1820. 

[OEEAU, Jean Yictor, one of the oldest and most celebrated 
generals of the French Republic, was born at Morlaix in 
Bretagne, in 1763. His father, destined him for the law ; but led, 
by his decided predilection for the military profession, he fled from 
his studies, and enlisted in a regiment, before he had attained his 
18th year. He was not, however, allowed to indulge his ruling 
passion, but was obliged to apply himself anew to the study of 
law, at Rennes, of which school he became a provost. "When the 
revolution broke out, he had acquired considerable reputation, and 
in 1Y89 a general Confederacy of the Bretons being formed at 
Poictiers, he was chosen its president, and also became commander 
of the first battalion of volunteers, raised in the department of 
Morbihan, at the head of which he joined the army of the north. 
He subsequently favored the party of Gironde, the fall of which 
much aff'ected him, and it was with great repugnance that he 



accepted tlie constitution of 1793, when finally presented to tlie 
army. In the meantime he much disfinguished himself at the 
head of his battalion, and Pichegru, under whom he served, did 
all he could to befriend him. The same year he was made general 
of brigade, and in 1794, general of division, and was entrusted 
with a separate force to act in maratime Flanders, where he took 
many towns. He also had a share in the memorable winter 
campaign of 1794, in which he commanded the right wing of 
Pichegru's army. He was soon after named Commander-in-Chief 
of the army of the Rhine, and commenced that course of arduous 
operations which ended in the celebrated retreat, from the 
extremity of Germany to the French frontier, in the face of a 
superior army, by which his skill as a consummate tactician was so 
much exalted. Meantime the Republic was torn with intestine 
divisions, and a conspiracy was entered into by Pichegru, which it 
was the fortune of Moreau to discover, by a correspondence which 
accidently fell into his possession. After struggling for some time 
with his friendship for his old commander, he finally gave up the 
documents to the directory ; but the evidentreluctance with which 
he took this step excited suspicions at Paris and finding that he 
could not explain himself satisfactorily, he begged leave to retire 
which was granted. His talents, as a general, again brought him 
forward, and in 1798 he was sent to command the army of Italy, 
where, after some brilliant successes, he was obliged to give way 
to Russian force under Suwarrow, and he managed another retreat 
with great skill. On quitting the command in Italy for that on the 
Rhine, he visited Paris, where he received some propositions to 
strengthen the party of the declining directory, to which he could 
not accede. On the return of Bonaparte from Egypt, he at 
first cordially supported him ; but a coldness and jealousy ensued 
notwithstanding which the latter, as the first consul, entrusted him 
with the command of the armies of the Danube and the Rhine. 
The passage of these rivers, with the battle of Moskirch, Engen, 
Memmingen, Biberach, Hochstadt, ]S"oerdlingen, and others, 
followed, ending with the decisive victory of Hohenlinden, which 
induced the Austrians to ask for peace. On his return to Paris, he 
was received by the first consul, with the most flattering attention • 
and he soon after contracted an alliance with a young lady of birth 



10 

and fortune, whose ambition with that of ]ier connections, is 
supposed to have fomented tlie discontent which soon after induced 
him to retire to his Estate at Grosbois. He was finally accused of 
participation in the conspiracy of Pichegru and Georges, was 
brought to trial with 54 other persons, declared guilty upon slight 
evidence, and sentenced to two 3'ears imprisonment, and to bear 
the expenses of the suit. He was, however, allowed to travel, in 
lieu of im|)risonment, and to seek assylum in the U. S. of America, 
on condition that he would not return to France without per- 
mission from the government. He accordingly embarked at 
Cadiz in 1805, and safely reached America, where he bought a fine 
Estate near Morrisville, on the Delaware. Here he remained 
some years in peace, until listening to the invitation of allies, and 
especially ot Russia, he embarked for Europe in the July of that 
year, and reaching Gottenburg, he proceeded to Prague. Here he 
found the Emperor of Austria and Russia, with the King of Prussia 
all of whom received him with great cordiality, and ho was induced 
to aid in the direction of the allied armies against his owu country. 
It was a fatal resolution to himself; for on the 27th of August, 
soon after his arrival, while conversing with the Emperor Alexander 
on horse back, in the battle before Dresden, acannon ball fractured 
his right knee and leg and carried away the calf of the left so as 
render the amputation of both necessary. After languishing for 
five days he expired Sept. 1st, 1813. He was hurried at 
St. Petersburg, and the Emperor of Russia made an ample 
provision for his widow, who also received the title oi M;irech:tle, 
from Louis XVIIL The manners of Moreau were simple, and he 
was humane and generous as well as brave. His great merits as a 
soldier, all parties admit ; but much of his personal conduct as a 
partisan, and especially that which led to the termination of liis 
life will be judged of variously by persons of different political 
opinions. 

^j#LEBER, Jean Baptiste, a French general, distinguished not 
^^ less for his humanity and integrity than for his courage 
activity and coolness, was one of the ablest soldiers, which the 
revolution, so fertile in military genius, produced. Young Kleber 
was peacefully occupied as an architect, when the revolutionary 



11 

troubles led him to the career of arms. He was born at Strasburg 
in I'ZSS, and had received some education in the military academy 
at Mnnicli, through the agency of some German gentlemen to whom 
he rendered a service. From 1776 to 1783, he had served iu the 
Austrian army, against the Turks. Having entered a French 
volunteer corps, as a simple grenadier, in 1792, his talents soon 
procured him notice, and after the capture of Mayence he was 
made general of brigade. Although he openly expressed his 
horror at the atrocious policy of the revolutionary government, 
his services were too valuable to be lost, and he distinguished 
himself as a general of division, in the campaign of 1795 and 
1T96. In 1797, Kleber, dissatisfied with the directory, retired from 
the service ; but General Bonaparte prevailed upon him to join 
the expedition to Egypt. Although no favorite of the General-in- 
Chief, yet such were his talents that he displayed in the campaign 
in Syria, and the battle of Aboukir, and such was the esteem in 
which he was held by the army, that Bonaparte left him the 
command when he himself returned to France. His situation was 
difficult; the army was weakened by a series of laborious marches, 
and sanguinary conflicts, and all communication with France was 
intercepted; yet he maintained himself successfully against 
the enemy, and introduced order into the government, but 
in the midst of new preparations for securing possession of the 
country, he M^as assassinated by a Turkish fanatic, June 14, 1800. 

MjESAIX, de Voygoux, Louis Charles, Antoine,a French general, 
^3 born 1768, at St. Hilaire d' Ayat, of a noble family. He 
served in 1794, in the ISTorthern army of the Rhine, under Moreau, 
in 1796, he defended the bridge of Khel, in November of that 
year. In 1797, he accompanied Bonaparte to Egypt, contributed 
to his first victory and was thence sent to the conquest of the 
Upper Egypt, where Murad Bey, notwithstanding his defeat, 
necessarily hariassed his c* nqueror. Bonaparte soon returned to 
Europe, as did Dcsaix himself, after the treaty of El Arith, 
concluded with the Turks and English. On his arrival in France 
he learned that Bonaparte had departed for Italy, hastened to join 
him and took command of the reserve. A third part of the 
French army were already disabled when Desaix arrived, (June 



12 

14, 1800,) on the field of Marengo. He immediately advanced to 
the charge, bnt fell, mortally wounded, by a cannon ball, just as 
the victory declared for the French. A monument was erected to 
him on the St. Bernard, also on the plains of Marengo, where he 
fell. Desaix was as just and disinterested as he was brave. The 
inhabitants of Cairo gave him the title of the Just Sultan. 

^ASSEE"A, Andre, duke of Rivoli and Prince of Esslingen, 
S marshal of France, &c., was born in 1T58, at ISTice, and rose 
from a common soldier to the rank of commander. At the com- 
mencement of the French revolution he was an inferior officer in 
the Sardinian troops ; but in 1Y29, when the warriors of the new 
republic had ascended mount Cenis, he joined their ranks, soon 
distinguished himself by his sagacity and courage, and was made 
a commissioned officer, and in 1793 general of brigade. Here he 
learned without a master, the science of war, in the skirmishes. 
In April, 1Y94, he was appointed general of division, and took 
command of the right wing of the Italian army. He was the 
constant companion in arms of Bonaparte, who, alter successful 
battle of Roveredo (1Y96) against Beaulieu, called him the favorite 
child of victory. The commander in chief sent him to Yienna, 
to conclude negotiations for peace, and in 1Y96, to Paris, to procure 
the ratification of the treaty. While Bonaparte was in Egypt, 
Massena and Moreau were the hopes of France. In lY99 Massena 
displayed his ability as commander-in-chief in Switzerland. After 
having ^ended the war successfully he was forced to fall back to the 
Albis, on account of the ill fortune of Jourdan on the Danube. 
Here he took a strong position, watching his opportunity, and by 
the battle of Zurich, September 25, prevented the junction of 
Korsakoff and Suwaroff, who had already ascended mount St. 
Gothard. This battle, the first that the Russians had lost in the 
open field for a century, decided the separation of Russia from 
Austria, and saved France. After Massena had reconquered the 
Helvetian and Rhaecian Alps, he was sent to Italy to check the 
victorious career of the Austrians. He hastened with the smaU 
force, which could be assembled, to the support of Genoa, his 
defence of which is among his most remarkable achievements. Ten 
days before the battle of Marengo, when all his resources were 
exhausted, Massena obtained an honorable capitulation. The consul 



13 

Bonaparte, wlio now returned to Paris, gave him the chief command 
of the army. Peace soon followed. Massena was chosen member 
of the corps legislatif by the department of the Seine, and in 
1804 was created marshal of the Empire. In 1805 he received the 
chief command in Italy. After the peace of Pressbm-g, Massena 
was sent by Kapoleon to take possession of the kingdom of Naples 
for Joseph, and captured Gaeta. After the battle of Eylau, in 180Y, 
Kapoleon summoned him to Poland, to take the command of the 
right wing of the French army. After the peace of Tilsit, war 
having broken out in Spain, Massena took the field with the title of 
duke of Rivoh; but in 1809 he was recalled to Germany. He was 
present in the battles of Eckmuhl, Ratisbon, Ebersberg, Esslingen, 
and Wagram. At Esshngen, his constancy and firmness saved the 
French army from total destruction, and Napoleon rewarded him 
with the dignity of prince of Esslingen. After the peace, he 
hastened to Spain, to deliver Portugal from the hands of the British. 
Wellington, retired before him and took a strong position at Torres 
Yedras for the defense of Lisbon, till want of provisions made it 
impossible for the French forces to hold out longer. Massena was at 
last obliged to retire, Napoleon recalled him from Spain, and, in 
1812, left him without a command. In 1814 he commanded at 
Toulon, declared for Louis XYIII, and was created commander of 
the order of St Louis. At the landing of Napoleon, in 1815, his 
conduct inu Toulon was by.no means doubtful. "When the Emperor 
was reestablished, he swore allegiance to him, and was made peer, 
and commander of the national guard at Paris, and contributed much 
to the preservation of tranquility of the city during the tm-bulent 
period which preceeded the return of the King. He lived afterwards 
in retirement, and his death was hastened by chargin at the conduct 
of the royalists. He died April 4th, 1817. 

fANNES, John, marshal of France, duke of Montebello, was 
born in 1Y69, was apprentice to a dyer, and in 1Y92, on the in- 
vasion of French soil, entered the army as Sergeant Major. His 
talents and services had raised him to the rank of chej de brigade, 
as early as 1Y95, and General Bonaparte created him Colonel after 
the battle of Millesimo. After distinguishing himself in Italy and 
Egypt, whence he returned with Bonaparte, and serving under the 
first consul in Italy, he was made marshal of the Empire in 1804, 



,14 

and subsequently the duke of Montebello. In the campaign against 
Austria (1805), he rendered important service, and at the battle of 
Austerlitz commanded the left wing of the main army. At Jena, Eyl- 
au, Friedland (ISOT), at Tudelo Saragosa in Spain, Marshal 
Lannes obtained a brilliant renown. In the campaign of 1809, 
against Austria, he lost both his legs by a cannon ball in the battle 
of Essligen or Aspern, May 22, and died May 31. l^apoleon was 
strongly moved at the sight of the dying Lannes, who was the 
favorite of the Emperor. His eldest son was created a peer by the 
King in 1815. He visited the United States in 1828, and during 
the revolution of 1830 fought on the side of the people. 

]PO]VI A.TO WSIil- 

|OI^IATOWSKI descended from an illustrious Polish family — 
born in 1763, served with courage against the Russians in 1792, 
and on the accession of his uncle to the confederation of Targowitz, 
he left the service with most of the best officers. When the Poles 
attempted in 1794 to drive the Russians out of the country he again 
joined the Polish camp as a volunteer. Kosciuszko gave him the 
command of a division, at the head of which he distinguished him- 
self at two sieges of Warsaw. After the surrender of the city he went 
to Vienna, and, rejecting the oifers of Catharine and Paul, hved in 
retirement on his return to Poland, on his estate near Warsaw. The 
creation of the Duchy of Warsaw rekindled the hopes of the Polish 
patriots, and Poniatowski accepted the place of minister of war in 
the new State. In 1809, he commanded the Polish army against the 
superior Austrian force which was sent to occupy the Duchy, com- 
pelled it to retire rather by skillful manouvres than by force of arms 
and penetrated into Galicia. In the war of 1812 against Russia 
he was again at the head of the Polish force and distinguished him- 
self in all the principal affairs of this chequered campaign. After the 
battle of Leipsic, during which Napoleon created him marshal of 
Prance, he was ordered October 19, to cover the retreat of the 
French army. The enemy were already in possession of the suburbs 
of Leipsic, and had thrown light troops over the Elster, when the 
prince arrived with a few followers, at the river, the bridge over 
which had been blown up by the French. Poniatowski, already 
wounded, plunged with his horse, into the stream, which swallowed 
up horse and rider. His body was first found on the 24th, and 



15 

hurried with all the honors of his rank, on the 26th. It was after- 
wards removed to Warsaw, and in 1816, was deposited in the 
cathedral at Cracow. Thorwaldsen has erected an equestrian statue 
of Poniatowski, for the city of Warsaw. 

(^^AYAKY, Eene, duke of. Eovigo, was horn in 1YY4. He was 
^^ ^Napoleon's minister of police and served with distinction, in 
1Y89 in the line, also in 1Y96, under Moreau, and in 1799, under 
Desaix in Egypt. After Desaix's death at Marengo, in 1800 he 
became E'apoleon's Adjutant General, and soon after was entrusted 
with the charge of the secret police. Bold, active and dexterous, as 
for instance in the discovery of the conspiracy of George and 
Pichegru, and at the same time zealously devoted to the Emperor, he 
soon obtained the confidence of the latter. ISTapoleon employed him 
on important missions. After the battle of Auf terlitz, he was sent 
to the Russian and Austrian headquarters, and in 1808, to Ferdinand 
YII, at Madrid, whom he induced to come to Bayonne. On account 
of a brilliant charge which he succesffuUy made at the head of his 
regiment at the battle of Friedland in 1807, the Emperor made him 
duke of Rovigo; and when Fouche fell into disgrace, he was aj)point- 
ed June 3, 1810 minister of police. After Napoleon's return from 
Elba, Fouche was made minister of police, and Savary was ap- 
pointed general superintendent of the £ens d'armes, and a peer of 
France. It is well known that the British government refused to 
give him permission to accompany Napoleon to St. Helena. Hav- 
ing been detained as a prisoner at Malta, he escaped, in April, 1816 
to Smyrna. Thence he went in 1817, to Trieste, in order to repair 
to Paris, to defend himself against a sentence of death passed on 
him December 25, 1816, by a court martial, but he was detained 
at Gratz, until he returned to Smyrna in June 1818, where he en- 
gaged in mercantile business. In 1819 he went to London and 
thence to Paris, where, December 27 of that year, he presented 
himself before the court and was acquitted. He then lived retired, 
but went to Berlin in 1823 to bring before the Prussian court of 
justice an action against the Prussian Exchequer for indemnification 
for the loss of his dotations in the Prussian dominions, which the 
King presented to General Gneisenau. Failing in this object, he 



16 

went back to Paris, and, in order to refute a passage in tlie memo- 
rial of Count Las Cases, published a fragment from his memories 
(Sur le Catastrophe du duo d'Enghien), denying his privity to 
the arrest and execution of the duke, and maintaining on the 
contrary, that the whole was planned and carried into execution 
without the previous knowledge of Il^I'apoleon, by the minister who 
was then at the head of foreign affairs (Talleyrand), But Talleyrand 
justified himself before Louis XYIII; and other publications con- 
nected with this affair, particularly those of General Hulin and 
Dupin, bear so hard on the duke of Rovigo, Ihat it is difficult to 
believe him not to have been privy to the hurried execution of the 
sentence. The duke of Rovigo was thereupon banished from the 
court, and from that time lived in close retirement. He appears to 
be a man of courage and adroitness, but destined by nature to fol- 
low the lead of men of more decided talent and character. He was 
appointed governor of Algiers in 1832 and died in Paris in 1833, of 
a disease contracted by him from exposure to the climate of 
Algiers. 

X>XJI^OC- 

^jUEOC, Michael, duke of Friuli, grand marshal of the palace, 
^^senator, general of division, grand order of the legion of honor, 
and of nearly all the orders of Europe, was born at Pont-a Mousson 
in 17Y2. His father was of an ancient family of Auvergne, having 
become captain and kniglit of St. Louis, he married and established 
himself in Lorraine. Young duke was early des*-ined for the 
army, and studied at the military school at Pont-a Mousson. March 
1, 1T92 he was made lieutenant of artillery. He then served in 
the republican armies. Honorable mention is made of his name 
in the battles of the Itahan army, particularly at the siege of 
Mantua, and at the battle of Sismone, in 1796 he served, during the 
first campaign in Italy, as aid -de-camp to the general of artillery, 
Lespinasse. Being subsequently appointed aid-de-camp to general 
Bonaparte, he soon made himself conspicuous by coolness, courage 
and ability. He distinguished himself at the battle of Grimolano, 
where he was wounded, and his horse was killed under him. At 
the passage of the Izonso, in Priuli, he was mentioned as one of 
the bravest, and most able officers. The title of the duke of Friuli, 



which he received, ten years afterwards, was chosen in allusion to 
his conduct at.Izonso. Duroc followed General Bonaparte into 
Egypt, and was promoted to the rank of chief of battalion the 
25th of Brumaire, year YI. During this campaign in which his 
services were of the greatest value, his name was again mentioned 
with honor after the battle of Salahia, the successful result of which 
was mainly owing to his valor. During the expedition into Syria, 
at the siege of Jaifa, Duroc seeing grenadiers falling at the post of 
the breach, and wavering, put himself at their head, and engaged 
hand to hand with several Turks. The army seeing him disappear 
in a tower which was defended with great fury, gave him up for 
lost, but soon received him with shouts on seeing him appear on the 
top, master of the tower and of the ramparts. After having dis- 
tinguished himself on several occasions, before St. Jean d'Acre, he 
was severely wounded by the bursting of a howitzer in one of the 
hot assaults made during the siege, the most bloody and obstinate 
in the military annals of France. He distinguished himself no less 
at the battle of Aboukir. Being made chief of brigade, he accom- 
panied General Bonaparte on his return to France; he was almost 
the only aid-de-camp of the commander in chief who survived the 
expedition; four had been killed in the campaign. Duroc took part 
in the events of the 18th Brumaire, and, a few days after, was sent 
to the court of Berlin, where he was received with great distinction. 
The Embassy contributed to preserve peace between these two 
countries. War continuing between France and Austria, the first 
consul set out for the campaign, which he terminated at Marengo. 
His name was honorably mentioned at the passage of Ticino, where 
he was the first to leap into a boat, at the head of the grenadiers. 
After the peace of Amieuf, he was sent, on diplomatic missions to 
the courts of St. Petersburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen. On his 
return, he was promoted to the rank of general of brigade and gov- 
ernor of the Tuillers; and on the 9th Fructidor, year X, he was 
made general of division. When the first consul assumed the title 
of Emperor, he made Duroc grand marshal of the palace. The 
courtier and favorite never ceased to be a soldier. He accompanied 
Napoleon in all his campaigns, in 1805 he was charged with the 
mission to the Russian court, at the time when Napoleon was 
marching against Yienna. He rejoined the army previously to the 
battle of Austerlitz, and took the command of the division of grena- 



18 

diers, which had been left without a head in consequence of the 
wound of Oudinot. At the battle of Austerlitz he also commanded 
a division of this chosen corps. During the campaign of Prussia, in 
1806 Duroc was commissioned to sign the treaty of peace with the 
King oi Saxonj; and at a latter period, he was the principal nego- 
tiator of the armistice which preceeded the peace of Tilsit. He fol- 
lowed Napoleon to Spain, and during the campaign of Wagram. 
At the battle of Esslingen he arranged and directed his batteries in 
such a way as to arrest the progress of the enemy in a decisive 
movement. After the battle of Znaym ISTapoleon sent him to the 
archduke Charles to negotiate an armistice. On the return from 
the Russian campaign (in 1812), Duroc reorganized the imperial 
guard, which at this time and on several other occasions, he com- 
manded. Before his last departure for the army, he was appointed 
senator. Duroc finally followed Napoleon to Germany in 1813 
and was killed May 23, after the battle of Lutzen, on entering the 
village of Merkersdorf, by a ball, which also killed General 
Kirschner with whom he was conversing behind the Emperor. 
This ball was the last which fell on that day, and the piece from 
which it was discharged was at so great a distance and surrounded 
by so many obstacles, that it is inconceivable how it could have 
reached the place. Napoleon visited Duroc on his death-bed and 
mingled tears with his farewell. He lost in him a true councellor-, 
a faithful friend, and one of his bravest officers. The death of the 
duke of Friuli and of the duke of Montebello are the two events 
on which Napoleon showed the greatest sensibility. Successively 
charged with the most important duties, military and political, the 
duke of Friuli was ever remarkable for a moderation wise in a 
soldier, for ability, disinterestedness, modesty, firmness, and a 
presence of mind which never deserted him. For 15 years he was 
friend and confidant of that extraordinary man. When Napoleon 
left France in 1815 and embarked on board of the Bellerophon, he 
wished to live in England under the name of Col. Duroc. Seven 
years afterwards we have another proof of the constant and afiec- 
tionate rememberance which Napoleon retained of him. He left 
to his daughter one of the largest legacies, bequeathed by his 
will. 



19 

|gf AMBRONNE, Piere, Jaqnes Ettienne, baron, general, com- 
^5s niander of the legion of honor, and field marshal, born Decem- 
ber 26, 1770, at St. Sebastien, near Nantes, was descended from an 
opulent family and enjoyed a good education. Under the republic, 
and under Napoleon, he served in every campaign, and became so 
celebrated on account of his personal bravery, that the soldiers 
wished to give him the title of first grenadier of France, after the 
death of Latour d'Auvergne, but he declined the honor. He was 
made commander of the chasseurs of the imperial guard, and was 
at Fontainebleau when Napoleon abdicated. He went with him to 
the island of Elba as chief of the division of the old guard, which 
accompanied him into his exile. Cambronne commanded the little 
corps with which Napoleon landed, March 1, 1815, in the gulf of 
St. Juan, and signed the address to the French army summoning 
them to return to Napoleon's standard. On the field of battle at 
Waterloo, he was taken prisoner by the British, among those who 
were severely wounded. His celebrated answer to the British pro- 
posal of capitulation is well known. " La garde meurt, elle ue se 
rend pas." The guard dies but does not surrender. He was one 
of the 19 generals of Napoleon who by the royal decree of July 24, 
1815, were to be tried by a court martial. He returned from his 
captivity as a prisoner of war, and appeared in person before the 
tribunal. As he had taken no oath to the Bourbons, he was ac- 
quitted. The sentence was revised, and the acquittal confirmed. 
In 1820 he was appointed by Louis XYIII to be commandant of 
the fortress of Lille, with the rank of a "marshal de camp" which 
ofiice, he however resigned in 1824, on account of the shattered 
condition of his health. He died March 5th 1826. 

g>IJGENE BEAITHARNAIS, duke of Leuchtenberg, prince of 
^lEichstad. ex-viceroy of Italy, was born September 3, 1781. He 
was the son of the viscount Alexander Beauharnais, who was 
guilotmed 1794, and Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie, afterwards 
wife of Napoleon and Empress of France. During the French 
revolution, Eugene entered the military service, and at the age of 



20 

12 years, accompanied his father when he took the command of the 
army of the Rhine. After his father's death, he joined Hoche, in 
La Yendee, when his mother was in prison. After the 9th Thermi- 
dor, he returned to his mother in Paris, and remained three years 
devoted to study. In 1796, Josephine was married to General 
Bonaparte, then commander in chief of the army in Italy, and 
Eugene accompanied his father-in-law in his campaigns in Italy and 
in Egypt. He was promoted to a high rank in the service, and in 
1805, created a prince of France and viceroy of Italy. In the same 
year, he distinguished himself in the campaign agaiust Austria, and 
after the peace of January 13, 1806, married the princes Augusta of 
Bavaria. In 1807 Napoleon made him Prince of Yenice, and 
declared him his heir to the kingdom of Italy. He administered 
the government of Italy with great prudence and moderation, and 
was much beloved by his subjects. In the war of 1809, he was at 
first unsuccessful against the arch duke John, but soon afterwards 
gained the battle of Raab, and distinguished himself at Wagram. 
He conducted with great prudence on the occasion of the divorce of 
l^apoleon from his mother. The 3d of March 1810, ISTapoleon ap- 
pointed him successor of the prince primate, who had been created 
grand duke of Frankfort. In the Russian campaign he commanded 
the third corps d'armee and distinguished himself in the battle of 
Ostrowno, Mohilew, and that of the Moskwa (Borodino). In the 
disastrous retreat, he did not desert the wrecks of his division for a 
moment, but shared its trials and dangers with the soldiers and en- 
eouraged them by his example. To him and to Ney, France was 
indebted for the preservation of the remains of the army during that 
fatal retreat. On the departure of Napoleon and Murat, he was 
left in the chief command, and showed great talent at that dangerous 
conjuncture. We find him again at the battle of Lutzen, of May 2, 
1813, where by surrounding the right wing of the enemy, he 
decided the fate of the day. Napoleon sent him from Dresden to 
the defence of Italy, now menaced by the enemy's forces, where 
military operations commenced after the dissolution of the congress 
of Prague, and the accession of Austria to the league of the allied 
.powers. Eugene maintained the defence of Italy, even after the 
^desertion of Murat. After the fall of Napoleon, he conducted an 
'.armistice with count Bellegarde, by which he delivered Lombardy 



21 

and all upper Italy, to the Austrians. Eugene then went immedi- 
ately to Paris, and then to his father-in-law, at Munich, lie was at 
the congress of Yienna. On the return of Napoleon from Elba, he 
was obliged to leave Yienna and retire to Baireuth. He was an in- 
active spectator of the events of 1815. By the articles of Fontaine- 
bleau, an indemnification M'as assigned him fur the loss of his estates 
in Italy, which were valued at 20 to 25 millions of francs, but the 
congress of Yienna confirmed his dotation in the ward of Ancona, 
and the King of Naples was obHged to pay him 5 million francs. 
By an ordinance of the King of Bavaria, he was created duke of 
Leuchtenberg, November l8]/r. The Bavarian Principality of 
Eichstad was bestowed upon him, and his posterity declared capable 
of Inheriting in case of a failure of the Bavarian line. He died at 
Munich February 21, 1821:, leaving two sons and four daughters. 
Prince Eugene, under a simple exterior, concealed a noble charac- 
ter and great talents. Honor, integrity, humanity, and love of 
order and justice, were the principal traits of his character. Wise 
in the counsel, undaunted in the field, and moderate in the exercise 
of power, he never appeared greater than in the midst of reverses, 
as the events of 1813 and 1814 prove. He was inaccessible to the 
spirit of party, benevolent and beneficent, and more devoted to the- 
good of others than to his own. He died of an organic disorder of 
the brain. 

'APOLEON BONAPARTE. This extraordinary genius was 
^ born Aug 15th, 1Y69, at Ajaccio in the island of Corsica, and 
was the second son ot Charles Bonaparte, a. Corsican nobleman, and 
Lettitia, his wife, whose maiden name was Rumolini. He received 
a place in the royal military school at Brienne in 1779, where he re- 
mained until 1784. During his stay there, his conduct is repre- 
sented as having been unexceptionable. In 1786 he commenced 
his military Hfe, being appointed in that year a second heutenant in 
the regiment of artillery La Fere. When he was twenty years old 
the French revolution removed barriers to his great career. In 1^3 
he was appointed captain. In 1794 when Mountain party devel- 
oped its energies, and finding no foundation for rational liberty on 
the first emersion of the country from the corruption and tyrany of 



22 

centuries, strov^e to save it by terrorism. Terror was to silence its 
adversaries, glory to unite its friends. Foreign enemies also con- 
tributed to develope the powers of France. Fourteen armies were 
raised, and tlie victorious legions of Rome became the exemplars of 
the republican w^arriors, who thirsted for glory and vengeance. Such 
a state of things would naturally awake a strong excitement in 
young Bonaparte, a soldier, whose age and profession would alone 
make him eager for distinction. Lyons was destroyed and 4000 
inhabitants had been shot, and treachery opened the gates of Toulon. 
Bonaparte received the command of artillery there and Toulon was 
taken. Tlie English before evacuating the place set fire to the 
town as well as to the French ships. It is probable that the enmity 
which Bonaparte manifested against the English during all the 
period of his power, was in some measure owing to the impression 
made upon him by their conduct at Toulon. December 19th, the 
day of taking Toulon, the commissioners appointed him general of 
brigade and commander of artillery of the army of Italy. The 9th 
Thermidor (2Y July), overthrew the reign of the Terrosists and 
General Bonaparte was arrested by order of Sallicetti and Albitti, 
because 3'ounger Robespierre and Ricord, who were proscribed on 
the occasion of this revolution had placed the greatest confidence 
in the young officer. A guard was stationed at his door, and his 
papers seized, but in a fortnight he was set at liberty and restored 
to his command. He next served und-^r General Dumerbion in 
Piedmont, who, after the battle of Cairo (in Piedmont), acknowl- 
edged in a letter to the commisioners, that he owed to the young 
officer the skilful combinations which had secured the victory. The 
cast which political notions of Bonaparte received from the stf rmy 
character of the period is apparent in most of his future conduct — 
About this time he became acquainted with Josephine, whom he 
met at the house of Barras, and March 19, 1Y96, was married to her. 
He was then appointed as general in chief of the army destined for 
Italy. His brilliant career commenced when he was but 27 jears 
old. The coalition at that time existing against France was for- 
midable; it was composed of England, Austria, Piedmont, JS'aples, 
Bavaria and all the minor states of Germany and Italy, but France 
reilly made war against Austria, which it was determined to attack 
chiefly in Italy. The conduct of this war was entrusted to Bona- 



23 



parte. Arrived at Nice, his headquarters, the joimg general had 
first to obtain an influence with veteran ofiicers, ah^eady distin- 
guished by a series of successes. Augereau, Massena, La Ilarpe, 
&c. The position of the French army in the rocks of Liguria was 
dangerous, Bonaparte saw that nothing could save them but victo- 
ries. His proclamation to his soldiers, admirably calculated to 
excite their enthusiasm, pride, and feeling of honor had a striking 
effect, and like Frederick the Great, he astonished his enemies by 
a new system of tactics. AVithin six days, in which victory fol- 
lowed victory, he separated tlie Piedmontese from Austrian armies, 
reduced 12,000 Austrians to inactivity, took forty cannons, became 
master of the fortress by Coni, Ceva, Tortona and Alexander, and 
obliged the King of Sardinia to sue for peace. The eyes of all 
Europe were now turned upon the young general, and the officers 
of the hostile armies themselves acknowledged the superiority of 
his system of concentration. Massena, Augereau and Joubert dis- 
tinguislied themselves in this campaign; but the superiority of 
Bonaparte was so decided that jealousy was silent, and his soldiers 
begun to adore him. The celebrated battle of Lodi, Avhere Bona- 
parte's personal courage was conspicuous, was fought on the 10th of 
May (1Y96). Then came many military exploits and diplomatic 
master strokes that have shed a lustre on Napoleon's name. Tlie 
battle of Areola was fought October 15th, and it was here that he 
raised a standard in the midst of a murderous fire, took the lead, 
his aid-de-canip Muiron was killed upon his body. He was so suc- 
cessful in arms and diplomacy that the trembling directory wished 
to get rid of him, he was accordingly appointed to the command of 
the "army of England" which, however, was intended for Egypt 
A fleet was very speedily collected, with more than 30,000 chosen 
troops and set sail May 19th (1798). The capture of Maha (June 
12), and of Alexandria (July 2), were the first results of the expe- 
dition. The victory over the Turks (July 25, 1799) and the recovery 
of Aboukir (August 2), were Bonaparte's last achievements in Egypt 
His brother Joseph informed him of the critical state of the republic 
and leaving the command of tlie army in the hands of Kleber he 
returned to France. Well might Bonaparte make it a matter of 
reproach to the directory, that he had left the republic victorious 



24 

and powerful and found it vanquished and feeble. The demand 
for a change of government was universal. He swore fidelity to 
the republic and on the 9th of November (1Y99), overthrew the 
directorial government. The grenadiers entered the hall at the 
command of Bonaparte, but stopped a moment, while a member of 
the council (General Jourdan), warned them that they were guilty 
of a violation of the rights of the representatives of the people. 
They then advanced, with fixed bayonets and drove the council 
from the hall, General Leclerc, their commander, crying out, "In 
the name of General Bonaparte, the legislative council is dissolved, 
grenadiers forward." Thus ended the constitution of 1Y95. Bona- 
parte was appointed consul for ten years with powers such as few 
constitutional Kings possess. With him were joined two consuls, 
with comparatively little power. Several conspiracies were soon 
discovered for the assassination of the first consul but every one of 
them failed. As soon as General Bonaparte seized the reins of 
government, he directed his attention to the formation and comple- 
tion of the code of laws. An interesting period, military and diplo- 
matic in the French history then follows, when on October 9th 
France seemed to be at peace with its adversaries. The celebration 
of the general peace at Paris November 9th, was splendid, and the 
people gave Bonaparte the title of pacificator. The peace of 
Amiens was concluded, with England, March 26, 1802. The cele- 
bration of this peace was solemnized April 28, in Notre Dame; from 
which event we may date, the reestablishment of the Catholic 
worship. A law of amnesty, which granted the emigrants permis- 
sion to return, was now passed, also a law establishing the Legion 
of Honor. Napoleon was obliged to concentrate the whole govern- 
ment in himself for the better carrying out of his plans through all 
the ramifications of the social system. Civil liberty, it must be 
acknowledged, is the great aim of modern civilization, and has 
never begun with the military glory of victorious legions, but if the 
growth of the military spirit was necessary, that is to say, if Napo- 
leon could not prevent it in the existing circumstances in order to 
secure the ends of justice, property and person, then, if this necessity 
is to be deplored, the individual should not be condemned. After 
the military spirit had been inflamed to the highest pitch and the 
military establishment had acquired a gigantic extent; after the 



25 

government had become absolute, and the ambition of Napoleon, 
the last infirmity of the noble minds, had received so much excite- 
ment — that he then, and especially towards the end of his reign, 
mistook sometimes the means for the end, cannot be denied. After 
the concordate with the pope was concluded and the Catholic wor- 
ship was reestablished — then came the question " Shall Napoleon 
Bonaparte be consul for life." It was answered in the affirmative, 
unanimously by the whole nation, and he reserved the right of 
nominating his successor. The troubles with England begun to in- 
crease, the non-adherence to the treaty of Amiens was complained 
of, and March 13, 1803, Bonaparte announced in a solemn audience 
of foreign ministers the approaching rupture with England, it 
eventually resulted in the '• Continental system," which Napoleon 
considered the only way to force England into a lasting peace with 
France. It was the most gigantic political project ever attempted, 
to obtain which many wars were waged and thrones overturned and 
established, and which finally brought ruin to the contriver. June 
20th, 1803 the continental system went into operation. A conspira- 
cy was soon discovered, February 15,1804, against the life and gov- 
ernment of the first consul, the heads of which were Pichegru and 
George Cadoudal. This and other attempts against the favorite of 
the nation brought the question of the hereditary power in France. 
On the 18th of May Cambaceres addressed him for the first time, 
sire and your majesty. The dignity of the marshal of the Empire 
was conferred on Berthier, Murat, Moncey, Jourdan, Massena, 
Augereau, Bernadotte, Soult, Brune, Lannes, Mortier, Ney, 
Davoust, &c. Seven days later, the Emperor received the oath of 
fidelity, from the senate, the tribunate, and the legislative body. 
Here follows an interesting j^eriod about which we refer the reader 
to the history of France. In the beginning of 1805, Napoleon 
wrote with his own hand, a letter to George III, offering to conclude 
peace for the welfare of Europe, but lord Mulgrave, then Secretary 
of State answered to the French minister of foreign affairs, that the 
King could not accept the proffer without consulting his allies. 
Napoleon, may now have first determined to banish all regard for 
the balance of power for England, and to adopt a federative system, 
in which France should have a preponderating influence. May 26, 
he crowned himself with the iron crown in the cathedral at Milan, 



26 

pronouncing these words, whilst he took the crown from, the altar: 
Dieu me la dorine; gare a qui la toitche (God has given it to me, 
woe to him who touches it). Beft)re he left Italy, the convents were 
abolished, with the exception of the charitable orders, and those 
which devoted themselves to instruction. ]S^ot withstanding the 
benefits which his policy conferred on the country, these changes 
were considered as violations of the law of nations, and incorpora- 
tion of G enoa with the Empire became the pretext lor a war long 
resolved upon. April 11, 1805, a treaty was concluded between 
Russia and England, by which they engaged to use most effective 
means to form a general coalition against France. An army of 
500,000 men was to force this Empire to restore the balance of 
power in Europe. The plan of this campaign is a striking exhibi- 
tion of Napoleon's genius, and the sagacity with which he made 
his victories conduce to his political objects, shows his great qualifi- 
cations for ruling. September 25 and 26 his army crossed the 
Rhine. October 2 he concluded a treaty of Ludwigsburg, with the 
elector of "Wirtemberg, which gave him a new accession of troops; 
on the same day Bavarians formed a junction with the French 
army. On the 3d Bernadotte marched with his corps through the 
neutral Prussian possessions in Franconia. Thus on the 4th, the 
Austrians were menaced on the flank and rear. On the 8th, Murat 
gained an important victory at Wertingen. On the lOth, Napoleon 
concluded a treaty with Baden at Esslingen. On the l4:th, the 
Austrians were partially defeated at Ulm ; and on the next day 
another Austrian corps at Trochtelfingen and another at Bopfingen; 
Napoleon's fortune seemed, nevertheless to waver. On the 21st, 
the French and Spanish fleet was annihilated by Nelson at Trafal- 
gar ; the arch duke Charles entered Italy ; Prussia put its troops in. 
motion, the Russian Emperor appeared himself in Berlin, and 
persuaded Frederick William to take part in the war; but the 
French advanced without delay into Austria, and November 13th, 
Murat entered Vienna, and Napoleon Schonbrunn. The battle of 
Austerlitz was fought on the 2d of December, after which followed 
the peace of Pressburg; the rapid series of decisive victories which 
followed, was almost unexampled. A decree of the senate conferred 
on the Emperor the title of Great. Pitt, his implacable enemy, had 
died, January 23, 1806. In July, the confederacy of the Rhine 
was formed in Paris, and Napoleon, as its protector, became the 



27 

ruler of the greater part of Germany. The battles of Aiierstadt 
and Jena were fought Octocer 14:th. IS'ovember 21 JSTapoleon issued 
the famous decree, declaring Great Britian in a state of blockade, 
and strictly prohibiting all intercourse with her. The French 
armies continued to advance. At Posen iJ^apoleon promised to the 
Ion 2: wronsced Poles the restoration of their kino;dom. A Russian 
army hastened, indeed, to aid the King of Prussia, but the battle of 
Pultusk, December 26, the bloody battle of Eylau, February 7 and 
8, the capitulation of Dant^ic, and the battle of Friedland, finally 
resulted in a peace between Russia and France Ytli of July, and on 
the 9th between France and Prussia at Tilsit. The interview of 
Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit resulted in a personal friendship 
of the two monarchs. England suspected the conclusion of secret 
articles of peace between them, and insisted on knowing them. As 
this was refused, she feared that Denmark, unable to maintain her 
neutrality in such a state of things, would yield up her ships to 
supply French loss at Trafalgar. The English cabinet, thereiore, 
resolved to possess themselves of the Danish fleet, and succeeded 
September 7th, after the bombardment of Copenhagen. The 
Danish fleet consisted of 18 ves&els of the line, 15 frigates, 6 brigs 
and 25 gun-boatf. The fate of Denmark, at this time, was the 
harder, as she had honestly struggled to preserve neutrality, but in 
great political crises, it is impossible either for nations or for iiidivid' 
iials to remain neutral. Still further to straighten England, Napo- 
leon now shut up the ports of the Pyrenean peninsu.la. Portugal 
wliich has for the last century, always been dependent on England 
attracted especially Napoleon's attention. Spain, ever since 1795 
subservient to France, had been so merely from fear; and when 
Napoleon, in 1806, was occupied with Russia, Godoy the prince of 
peace, had issued a proclamation calling npon the Spaniards to take 
up arms against the common enemy. Pradt, ascribes Napoleon's 
conduct towards Spain, to his being irritated by this foolish procla- 
mation, but the plans of Napoleon were not likely to be influenced 
by the proclamation of a subject like Godoy. Napoleon had also 
informed the prince regent of Portugal in August, that he must 
give up all connection with England, confiscate English merchan- 
dize in Portuguese ports, and adhere without reserve to the conti- 
nental system, if the house of Braganza wished to remain on the 



28 

throne — a demand which it was actually impossible to fulfil, besides 
being inconsistent with the oath taken by every ruler of Portugal. 
When a French army approached, he and his family embarked, Nov. 
29th, for Braz.il, the next day, Junot entered Lisbon, and the con- 
quest of Portugal was completed. The political state of Spain at 
this time was deplorable, and the condition of the Spanish court 
shocking. It consisted of an imbecile King — a Queen who did not 
even seem to observe appearances, an ambitious and intriguing favor- 
ite and prime minister; and, an heir-apparent conspiring against his 
father's throne. On the 19th of October Napoleon set out tor Spain, 
where his presence brought victory to the French arms. But the 
threatening movements of the Austrian cabinet speedily obliged him 
to return. Austria declared war April 9, 1809. Napoleon entered 
Ingolstast on the 18th. On the 20tli he defeated the Austriaus at 
Abensberg ; on the 21st at Landshut ; on the 22d at Eckmuhl, on the 
23d at Katisbon, and on the 12th of May Vienna capitulated. In Tyrol 
the peasants took ujd arms, under Hofer, against the French ; and 
Schill headed an insurection in the north of Germany. On the 21st 
and22dofMay Napoleon fought the battle of Aspern and Esslingen 
with ill success, but the Italian army came to his aid ; and after the 
battle of Raab, June 14th, the Austrians were defeated at Wagram 
July 5th and 6th, which resulted in the truce of Znaym. On the 13th 
a German youth, of the name of Staps attempted to stab him at 
Schonbrunn. Meanwhile Napoleon had united, May 17, 1809, the 
whole of the states of the church with France. Pius VII had no arras 
but excommunication, and this he pronounced, June 12th against the 
Emperor. The most important of the negociations following this 
campaign, was that for the hand of an Austrian Princess for the 
Emperor, who in order to give quiet to France, certainly wanted a son 
for the firm establishment of his throne. Hard as it was for him to 
separate from Josephine, the step was one that might have been ex- 
pected. December 2d Napoleon celebrated the anniversary of his 
coronation at Paris with unusual pomp-a-festival remarkable for the 
great number of Sovereigns from Germany and ether parts of Europe 
who attended it, and for the speech which Napoleon delivered on 
that day, and which was directed much more to all Europe than to 
those assembled. December 16 a decree of the senate, annulled the 



29 

marriage betM^een Napoleon and Josephine. March 11, 1810, the 
nuptials of the Emperor with the archduchess Maria Louisa of Austria 
were celebrated in Vienna, and April 2d, Cardinal Fesch performed 
the marriage ceremony at Paris. Peace had also been concluded 
January 6th, 1810, Avith Sweden on the basis of the continental system. 
A great portion of Europe was subjugated. Spain alone continued 
to fight. England remained unconquered, and Russia was still a 
formidable power; with America too, differences arose respecting the 
continental system, for this reason the decree of Berlin and Milan 
were revoked Apial 28 1811. Napoleon stood on the pinnacle of his 
power, which if possible was still more consolidated by the young 
Empress giving birth to a prince, March 20, 1811 to whom had been 
given the title of the King of Rome. New differences now arose be- 
tween France and Russia; whatever may be said as to the causes of 
this war, it is prubable that the chief part of these was Alexander's 
not adhering strictly to the continental system as he had promised to 
do at Erfurt. But Napoleon foresaw not the burning of Moscow, and 
the great impulse given theieby to the Russian people. The winter, 
which set in several weeks earlier than usual did the rest. Napoleon's 
genius, however, shone amidst his reverses, and always, even amidst 
the horrors of the passage of the Berezina, November 26th and 27th 
1812. The battle of Leipsic on the 16th, 17th and 18th of October 
(1813), displayed all his talent, but its consequences were most dis- 
astrous to him. All his energies were called into action in the series 
of conflicts between the Marne and Seine, in February and March 
1814. In spite of all entreaties of all who surrounded him, he refused 
to make peace. April 11, 1814, Napoleon signed the act ofabdiction, 
and the treaty which left him the island of Elba, with sovereign 
power, the title of Emperor, and and an income of 2,000,000 francs. 
He abdicated with words. " The allied powers having proclaimed 
that the Emperor Napoleon is the only obstacle to the establisment of 
peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon faiihful to his principles, de- 
clares that he renounces, for himself and his heirs, the thrones of 
France and Italy, because there is no personal sacrifice, even that of 
his life, which he is not ready to make for the welfare of France, and 
for the peace of the world." At this point we may consider the history 
of the Empire as, in the main, closed, and pause for a moment. He 



30 

returned from Elba. February 26th, 1815, he embarked with 900 men, 
and landed March 1st, at Cannes, Avliere he had landed 16 years be- 
fore on his return from Egypt; and his tnarch to Paris at this time 
might well be compared to his former journey. On the voyage he 
had written a proclamation, which set forth the reason of his return 
and of which he caused many copies to be made. Without encounter- 
ing any royal troops, he advanced rapidly. March 7th he first met 
a body of royal troops, commanded by Labedoyere, who could not 
prevent them from joining Napoleons guards. The same evening the 
gates of Grenoble were opened to him. Lyons m'^s entered on the 
evening of the 10th. On the 13th, marshal Ney went over to him; 
and March 20th he reached Paris, which Louis XVIlI had left in 
haste. The raonarchs assembled at Vienna declared Napoleon out of 
the pale of national law. Whilst he was exerting himself to collect 
and organize an army, he caused the "additional act" to be added to 
the constitution of the Empire, declaring that " henceforth he has no 
other object than to promote the welfare of France by giving security 
to liberty." The battle of Waterloo, defeated all his plans and hoj^es. 
He returned to Paris June 21 and abdicated, on the 22d, in favor o^ 
his son Napoleon II. This was not accepted by the allied powers' 
who had not ceased to acknowledge the Bourbons as rulers of France. 
Napoleon returned to Malmaison, and, after some days, to Rochefort 
from whence he wished to embark for the United States, but the harbor 
was closely blockaded by the English. July 3 the Capitol surren- 
dered to the enemy and Napoleon was exi^osed of being given iip to 
the Bourbons. Being prevented from sailing, he asked, July 10, the 
commander ol the British ship Bellerophon, which lay off the port of 
Rochefort, what he had to expect if he claimed the hospitality of the 
English. An answer was sent that he had not yet leceived orders, 
but that he was authorized, if Napoleon would embark immediately 
for England, to carry him there, and to show him every respect due to 
his rank. Napoleon accepted tlie offer, and desi^atching General 
Gourgaud to the prince regent with a letter, comparing his own fate 
to that of Themistocles, he went on board July 16 and the vessel im- 
mediately sailed for Torbay, Avhere he was informed on the part of 
the English government, that he was to be conveyed as a prisoner to 
St Helena. 



31 

On that island he lived from October 18, 1815, to May 6th, 1821, 
at Longwood, receiving from the English the title of "General Bona- 
parte," and watched by the commissioners of the allies as a European 
prisoner of State. Napoleon's life at St. Helena has disarmed the 
hatred of many of his enemies, while it has increased the respect of 
his adherents. He was accompan'ed, voluntarily by General Bertrand 
with his wife and child; count Montholon, with his wife and child; 
count Las Cases, with his son, who was obliged to leave him in 1817, 
also General Gourgaud, who returned to Europe in 1818, and by 
several servants. He maintained his character in the miseries of 
exile as in the palace of the Tuilleries. All the persons who served 
him at St. Helena treated him as Emperor ; and he appreciated and 
returned their fidelity with feelings of gratitude and friendship. The 
Governor of the island, Sir Hudson Lowe, watched him with unspar- 
ing vigor. When his physician Dr, O'Meara was ordered to leave 
him, by the English governor, he remained for some months without 
medical aid. When he was no longer permitted to go abroad without 
military escort, he never left, his habitation. For recreation he played 
chess or some one read to him. In the confidential circle, he spoke 
of his childhood and his fute with the calmness with which he would 
have spoken of the history of antiquity. Of the French at St. Helena 
Napoleon was the most serene. He entertained for his son the most 
tender affection; of France, he spoke only with respect and love. His 
death was occasioned by the cancer of the stomach. He was aware 
that his death was approaching and spoke of it frequently and with 
composure. His will contains several proofs of gratitude and kind- 
ness. At the hour of his death no change was visible in his counte- 
nance. He expired — on the field-bed which he had used at Austerlitz 
— with calmness, in the arms of his faithful friends, Bertrand and 
Montholon, at Longwood, May 5th, 1821, about 6 o'clock in the 
evening, aged fifty-one years and nine months. May 8th he was 
hurried in a valley of his own selection. Twenty years afterwards, 
October 18th, 1840, his ashes were removed to France, where they 
now repose — beneath a magnificent monument, in the Hotel des 
Invalides. 

The following cronological table of the events of Napoleon's life 
will be acceptable to the reader. 



82 

1T69. Born at Ajaccio, August 15. 

1119. Sent to the military scliool at Brienne. 

1784. Selected to complete his education at the military school in 

Paris. 
1786. Commissioned as second lieutenant of artillery, and the same 

year promoted to a first lieutenancy. 

1792. While on a furlough in Corsica, commands a battalion against 
Ajaccio. 

1793. Obliged to leave Corsica, on account of his opposition to the 
designs of Paoli. Promoted (July) to a captaincy. Com- 
mandant of artillery at the siege of Toulon. December 19th, 
appointed brigadier general of artillery in Italy, 

1795. 13 Vandemiait^e, (Oct. 5), defeats the attack of the sec- 
tions on the convention. Appointed commander in chief of 
the array of the interior. 

1796. Appointed commander in chief of the army of Italy (Feb. 23). 
Married (March 9). Battle of Montenotte (April 11); of 
Millesimo, (U); of Mondovi, (22); ofLodi, (May 8). Peace 
with Sardinia. Battle of Castiglione, (Aug. 5); of Roveredo 
(Sept 4); of Bassano, (8): of Areola, (Nov. 15-17). 

1797. Battle of Rivoli, (Jan. 14); of Favorita, (16). Peace of 
Tolentino with the Pope (Feb. 19). Victory over the arch 
duke Charles on the Tagliamento (March 16), Capture of 
Gradisca (19): of Trieste (21). Preliminaries ofLeoben (April 
18). Occupation of Venice (May 16), Formation of the 
Ligurian Republic (31). Proclamation of the Cisalpine Re- 
public (July 8), Peace of Campo-Formio (Oct. 17) with 
Austria. 

1798. Bonaparte sails for Egypt from Toulon (May 19). Battle of 
the Pyramids (July 21). of the Nile (Aug. 1). 

1799. Capture of Jaffa (March 10). Siege of Acre raised (May 20). 
Battle of Aboukir (July 25). Bonaparte sails from Egypt 
(Aug. 17). Revolution of 18 Hviimalre (Nov. 9) Bona- 
parte named first consul (Dec. 13). 

1800. Constitution of the year VIII (Feb. 7). Victories ot Monte- 
bello (June 9) and Marengo (14), gained by General Bona- 
parte. Armistice with Austria. Nomination of the commis- 



33 



sion for drawing up a new code (Aug. 12). Conspiracy of 
Arena (Oct. 9) discovered, Explosion of tlie infernal 
macliine (Dec. 24). 

1801. Peace of Luneville (Feb. 9) witli Austria; peace with Spain 
(March 21); with Il^aples (28). Concordate with the Pope 
(July 15). Peace with Bavaria (Aug. 24); with Portugal 
(Sept, 29). Preliminaries of peace with England (Oct 1). 
Peace wfth Russia (8); with Turkey (9), with Algiers 
(Dec. 11). 

1802. Bonaparte named president of the Itahan Republic (Jan. 26) 
Peace of Amiens (March 25). Proclamation of amnesty to 
emigrants. The term of Bonaparte's consulship prolonged 
ten years (May 1). Creation of the legion of honor (19) 
Bonaparte declared consul for life (Aug. 2). 

IgOS. Creation of senatorships (Jan. 4). New organization of the 
Institute. Assumes the title of grand mediator of the 
Helvetic republic. Sale of Louisiana to the United States 
(April 30). Renewal of hostilities with England (May 20). 

1804. Arrest of Pichegru (Feb. 28). Death of the due d'Enghien 

(March 21). The senate confers on Napoleon the title of 
Emperor of the French (May 18). 

1805. The Emperor accepts the crown of Italy (March 18). Treaty 
of Pressburg between England and Russia (April 11). 
Austria joins the coalition (Aug. 9). Battle ofElchingen 
(Oct. 14), of Trafalgar (21), of Austerlitz (Dec. 2). Peace 
of Pressburg between France and Austria. 

1806. Formation of the kingdoms of Bavaria and Wurtemburg (Jan. 
1). Joseph Bonaparte proclaimed the king of the two Sicilies 
(March 30). Prussia is allowed to occupy Hanover. Louis 
Bonaparte proclaimed king of Holland (June 5). Napoleon 
proclaimed the protector of the confederation of the Rhine 
(July 12). Rupture with Prussia (Oct. 6). Battle of Jena 
(14). Capture of Berlin (25). Occupation of Hanover, cap- 
ture of Posen, Hamburg, Bremen, Warsaw, Thorn, &c., 
(Oct. 28 to Dec. 6). Berlin decree declares the British isles 
in a state of blockade (Nov. 21). 

1807. Battle of Eylau (Feb. 8); of Friedland (June 14). Peace of 
Tilsit with Russia and Prussia July Y . Creation of the 



34 

kingdom of Westphalia (Aug. 8), The Enghsh bombard 
Copenhagen. AlKance between France and Denmark. 
Treaty between France and Spain. Russia breaks off all 
communication with England (Oct. 31). Treaty between 
Holland and France. British order in council of (l^ov. 11), 
in relation for the Berlin decree. Capture of Lisbon by 
Jnnot. Prussia interdicts aU intercourse with England 
(Dec. 1), Jerome Bonaparte placed on the throne of West- 
phalia, Milan decree (Dec. Y). 

1808. French troops occupy Kome (Feb. 2); overrun Spain. Crea- 
tion of majorats and hereditary titles (March 11). Treaty of 
Bayonne (May 5). Joseph Bonaparte proclaimed king of 
Spain (June 6). The French troops evacuate Portugal 
(Aug. 30). The English enter Spain (Oct. 29). War of the 
peninsula. Napoleon arrives in Spain (Nov. 4). Capture 
ofMadrid(Dec. 4). 

1809. Capture of Saragosa (Feb 21); of Oporto (March 29). Aus- 
tria renews hostilities (April 9). Napoleon leaves Paris 
(13). Battle of Eckmuhl (22); Napoleon enters Vienna 
(May 13). Battle of Esslingen (20-22). Napoleon excom- 
municated. Battle of Wagram (July 5). Peace of Vienna 
with Austria (Oct. 14). Battle of Talavera (July 28). 
Divorce of Josephine (Dec. 16). 

1810. Sweden acceeds to the continental system (Jan 6). Marri- 
age of Napoleon with Maria Louisa (March 11). Holland 
incorporated with France. Capture of Ciudad Rodrigo. 
Battle of Busaco. Institution of the prevotal courts. 

1811. Capture of Oporto and Olivenza (Jan. 22), and Badajoz 
(March 10) by the French. Birth of the King of Rome 
(March 20). Battle of Fuente de Onoro (May 4-6); of 
Saguntum (Oct. 20). 

1812. Capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, by WeUington (Jan. 19); of 
Badajoz (April 1). Battle of Tarragona (June 12). Treaty 
between Prussia and France (Feb. 14); of alliance between 
France and Austria (March 14); between Rnssia and Sweden 
(24), to which England acceeds (May 3). Declaration of 
war against Russia (June 22). Battle of Smolensk (Aug. 
16); of Moskwa (Sept. Y). Capture of Moscow (14). Evacu 
ation of Moscow (Oct 23). Conspiracy of Mallet. The 



35 



twenty-ninth bulletin announces the disasters of the grand 
army (Dee 3). JS'apoleon quits the army (Dec. 5). 

1813. The French army arrives at Berlin (Jan. 21). Alliance be- 
tween Russia and Prussia (March 1). Capture of Dresden 
by the Eussians (21). ^N'apoleon declares war against 
Prussia; joins the army in Germany (April). Battle of 
Lutzen (May 2); of Bautzen (20); of Yittoria (June 21). 
Austria joins the coalition against France (Aug 12). Battle 
of Dresden (26). Treaty of Teplitz (Sept 9). The English 
pass Bidassoa (Oct 3). Napoleon arrives at St. Cloud (Nov. 
13). Passage of the Rhine by the Prussians (Dec 31). 

1814. Napoleon fixes his headquarters at Chalons (Jan. 26). 
Battles of Brienne (29), of Champ-Aubert (Feb. 10); of 
Montmirail (18) gained by Napoleon. Napoleon retires to 
Fontainebleau (March 30). Capitulation of Paris (31). The 
conservative senate declares Napoleon to have forfeited the 
throne (April 2). Abdication of Napoleon (1l). His 
departure for Elba (20). Entrance of Louis XVIII into 
Paris (May 3). 

1815. Napoleon lands near Cannes (March 1); arrives at Paris 
(20). Coalition of the four great powers against France 
(25). Battle of Waterloo (June 18). Abdication of Napo- 
leon (22), embarks on board of the Bellerophon (July 15); 
declared by the allies to be their prisoner ; arrives at St. 
Helena (Oct. 13). 

1821. Death of Napoleon (May 5). 

^^USTAN, born at Erivan in Armenia, and was chosen by Bona- 
^J parte in Egypt from the young slaves which formed the semi- 
nary of the Mamelukes. He was designated to be about his person 
continually, where he had many chances to distinguish himself 
through his presence of mind and his courage. When Napoleon 
became Emperor, Rustan was seen among his staff dressed in the 
richest oriental costume and was overloaded with presents and 
favors by the Emperor. However he was one of the first to leave 
Fontainebleau, in 1814, and was not to be seen in Paris during the 
hundred days. After Napoleon had left for St. Helena, Rustan 



36 

went to London, wliere, for a short time, lie attracted attention in 
the drawing rooms. Afterwards, he established a coffee house in 
Paris, and lived in Dourdang, in the department of the Seine and 
Oise, where he died forgotten by all, on the Yth day of December 
1845. 

tUGEREAU, Pierre, Francois, Charles, dukeof Castiglione, inar- 
shal of France, son of a fruit merchant ; born at Paris 1757, 
served as a carabinier in the French army, went from thence into 
Napoleon's service, established himself at Naples in 1787 as a 
fencing master, and was banished thence, in 1792, with the rest of 
his countrymen. He served afterwards in the army of Italy, in 
which his talents and courage soon gained him promotion. He dis- 
tinguished himself in 1794. as a general of brigade in the army of 
the Pyrenees, and, in 1796, as general of division in the army of 
Italy. He took the pass of Millessimo, made himself master, April 
16, of the intrenched camp of the Piedmontese at Ceva, afterwards 
of that at Casale ; threw himself on the bridge at Lodi and carried 
with it the enemy's intrenchments. June 16, he passed the Po, and 
made prisoners the papal troops, together with the cardinal legate 
and the general's staif. August 1 he came to the assistance of 
Massena ; maintained during the whole day a most obstinate strug- 
gle against superior number of troops, and took the village of 
Castiglione, from which he derived his ducal title. August 25, he 
passed over the Aclige, and drove back the enemy, as far as 
Roveredo. In the battle of Areola, when the French columns 
wavered, he seized the standard, rushed upon the enemy, and 
gained the victory. The directory bestowed this standard on him 
January 27, 1797. August 9, he was named commander of the 17th 
military division, in j)lace of General Hatry. He was the instru- 
ment of the violent proceedings of the 18th Fructidor, and was 
;Baluted, by the decimated legislative body, as the saviour of his 
country. In 1799, he was chosen a member of the council of five 
hundred and, therefore, resigned his command. He then obtained 
from the consul Bonaparte, the command of the army in Holland. 
He led the French and Batavian army on the Lower Rhine to the 



37 

support of Moreau, passed the river at Frankfort, and fouglit with 
the imperial general with various success, until the battle of Hohen- 
linden ended the campaign. In October 1801, being superceded 
by G-eneral Victor, he remained without employment, till 1803, 
when he was appointed to lead the army, collected at Bayonne, 
against Portugal. When this enterprise failed, he went back to 
Paris, and. May 19, 1804, was named marshal of the Empire, and 
grand officer of the legion of honor. In July of this year, the 
King of S]3ain, sent him the order ot Charles III. At the end of 
1805 he was at the head of a cor]3s of the grand army of Germany, 
formed of troops collected under his command at Brest. He con- 
tributed towards the success which gave birth to the peace of Press- 
burg, and, in March 1806, had possession of Wetzlar and the 
country around, until of the autumn of this year, a new war called 
him to Prussia. The wounds which he received at the battle of 
Eylau, compelled him to return to France. Early in 1811 Napoleon 
gave him the command of a corps in the army of Spain. After- 
wards he returned from thence, and remained without any employ- 
ment until July, 1813, when he led the army of Bavaria against 
Saxony, where he took part in the battle of Leipsic. At the 
entrance of the allies into France, his duty was to cover Lyons, 
Louis XVIII, named him a peer. After the fall of Napoleon, A, 
used reproachful language respecting him in a proclamation to 
his army. Napoleon, therelore, on his landing in 1815, declared 
him a traitor. A. however, expressed himself in his favor, but 
took no active part in the new order of things. After the return of 
the king, he took his place again in the chamber of peers, sat 
amongst Ney's judges, was for a while unoccupied, and died, June 
11, 1816, at his estate La Houssaye, of the dropsy. 

JXJIVOT- 

MUNOT, Andoche, duke of Abrantes, a French soldier, born in 
Bussyle, Grand Burgundy; October 23, 17Y1. He was educated 
for the law, but in 1792 enlisted in the army as a volunteer, and by 
his courage won the soubriquet of the " tempest," He attracted 
the attention of Bonaparte at the siege of Toulon, and a close inti- 
macy sprung up between the two, Junot's devotion to his superior 
amounting almost to fanaticism. He accompanied Bonaparte to 



38 

Italy as his aid-de-camp, and won the rank of Colonel in the cam- 
paign of 1^97. He distinguished himself in Egypt, and was made 
brigadier general. A woand received in a personal encounter with 
a brother oflScer, who was not as enthusiastic an admirer of Bona- 
parte as himself, delayed his return to France, and he landed at 
Marseille* on the day of the battle of Marengo. He was forthwith 
appointed to the command at Paris, and a few months later married 
Mile Laure de Permon, and received the rank of the general of 
division. But his own as well as his wife's indiscretions were so 
distasteful to Napoleon, that in 1803, he removed Junot to the 
command of the corps of the " army of England." On the estab- 
lishment of the Empire, Junot was promoted to the rank of Colonel 
general of the hussars, received a pension of 30,000 francs, and a 
little later the grand cross of the legion of honor ; but he could not 
conceal his disappointment at not having been placed among the 
first marshals of the Empire. His dissatisfaction, his improper 
behavior and lavish expenditures, coupled, with his wife's eccen. 
tri cities, caused the Emperor to send them for a while into honora- 
ble exile, and Junot was appointed ambassador to Lisbon, where he 
distinguished himself only by his ostentation. In the same year he 
went to Germany without permission and arrived in time to partici- 
pate in the battle of Austerlitz. In 1806 he was again appointed 
governor of Paris and commander of the first military division; but 
the same follies on his part, led to the same results as before. He 
was sent to Spain to take the command of the army that was to 
invade Portugal ; here at least he showed his talent as a general, 
succeeded in taking possession of the country in the face of the 
greatest difiiculties, and won by his gallant conduct the title of duke 
of Abrantes ; but his success was soon checked by the arrival of Sir 
Arthur Wellesley with an English army. Junot was defeated at 
Vimeira, and constrained by the convention of Cintra, August 22 
1808, to evacuate Portugal. Landed at La Kochelle with his troops 
by the English fleet, he immediately joined l^apoleon, who took 
him back to Spain, where he was placed in the command of the 3d 
corps, then besieging Saragossa. He participated in the campaign 
of 1809, in Germany, and in 1810 was sent back to the Peninsula 
where he was severely wounded in the face by a bullet. In 1812, 
he commanded a corps of the invading army in Eusssia, but his 



39 

slow operations did not.^ satisfy the Emperor, who, instead ot 
employing him actively the next year in Saxony, appointed him 
commander of Yenice and governor general of the Italian provinces. 
This kind of disgrace, combined with other troubles, and the suffer- 
ing brought upon him by his old wounds, preyed so much upon his 
constitution, that he became insane, and was taken to his fathers' 
house in Montbard, near Dijon, where he threw himself from a 
window and died from the effects of the fall — this occured, July 29 
1813. 

tERTRAND, Henri, Gratien, Count, general of division, aid-de- 
camp of Napoleon, grand marshal of the palace, &c., famous 
for his attachment to Napoleon, whom he and his family voluntarily 
accompanied to St. Helena. He was born of the parents of middle 
ranks in life, entered the military service, distinguished himself in 
the corps of engineers, and rose to the post of general of brigade, in 
1804, Napoleon had occasion to become acquainted with his worth. 
From that time B, was with him in all his campaigns, signalizing 
himself everywhere, especially at Austerlitz, where he was one of 
the Emperor's aid-de-camps. In 1806, he took Spandau, a fortress 
about seven miles from Berlin, after an attack of a few days; and in 
1807 contributed towards the victory over the Russians at Friedland 
and excited the admiration of the enemy by his masterly conduct in 
the building of two bridges over the Danube, after the battle of 
Aspern, in the war of 1809 against Austria. He distinguished him- 
self equally in the campaigns of 1812 and 1813, particularly of 
Lutzen and Bautzen. In October 1813, he defended several impor- 
tant posts against superior numbers, and after the battle of Leipsic, 
in which he defended Lindenau against Giulay, conducted the 
retreat in good order. After the battle of Hanau, he covered 
Mentz till the army had passed the Rhine. He took part in the 
campaign of 1814, by the side of Napoleon, whom he accompanied 
to Elba, returned with him, and finally shared his residence at St. 
Helena. After Napoleon's death (1821). he returned from this 
island to France. The revolution of July 1830, recalled General 
Bertrand into active service and he was that y^ar, also chosen a 
member of the chamber of deputies. As was to have been expected 



40 

he was one of those who were sent to St. Helena, in 1840, to bring 
to France the ashes of NajDoleon. In 1843, he visited the United 
States, where he was very favorably received. He died soon after 

his return to his country, m the following year. 

EAPP, John, count of, a French general during the revolutionary 
war, was born in Alsatia, in 1Y72. In 1788, he entered the 
military service. As aid of General Desaix, he accompanied him 
during the campaigns in Germany and Egypt. After Desaix had 
fallen at Marengo, Eapj) became aid to Bonaparte, to whom he had 
carried information of Desaix's death. In 1802, he executed the 
commission which he had received from the first consul to exhort 
the Swiss to a cessation of hostilities, and to profer the mediation 
of France in the conflict of parties which had destroyed the tran- 
quility of the country since its occupation by the French armies. 
The Swiss submitted to Bonaparte's decision. In the following 
year, Rapp was disjDatched to the mouth of the Elbe to superintend 
the erection of works to protect the country, against the landing of 
the English. On the breaking out of war against Austria, in 1805? 
he accompanied I^apoleon, and after the battle of Austerlitz, where 
he threw the Russian guards into confusion by a bold attack with 
his cavalry, and took Prince Pepnin prisoner, he was made 
brigadier general. In the war with Prussia, and Russia, he also 
fought with reputation, and in the summer of 180Y, received the 
chief command in Dantzic, in the room of General Lefebvre. With 
the exception of a short interruption in 1812, when he distinguished 
himself in Russia, he remained seven years commander in Dantzic, 
which he defended after the retreat of the French army from Russia 
till 1814, during a severe siege, in which he displayed great talent 
and brilliant courage, and not till all the means were exhausted and 
he was compelled by famine, did he capitulate. He was taken as 
a prisoner of war, to Kiev. Returning to France in 1814, he was 
received with distinction by the King, and in March 1815 was en- 
trusted with the command of the first corps d'arme, destined to 
retard the progress of Napoleon. But when the defection of the 
whole army rendered all resistance impossible, Rapp also went over 
to Napoleon, who made him commander of the army of the Rhine, 
which occupied the hnes of the Lauter and from Weissenburg, and 



41 

extended along the Ehine as far as Ilimningen. After several 
battles with the enemy of superior force, Rapp retreated under the 
cannons of Strasburg. When Louis XYIII returned a second time 
to Paris, Rapp retained the command of the fifth division, granted 
him by Napoleon till September of the same year, when the army 
was disbanded. He retired to his estates, but soon returned to Paris. 
When the news of ISTapoleon's deatb arrived, Rapp was about the 
person of the King. The information moved him so strongly, that 
he expressed his feelings aloud. "I am not ungrateful" he said, and 
immediately witlidrew. The King informed of his conduct sent for 
him and thus addressed him : "Rapp I know that you are greatly 
affected at this information ; this does honor to your heart, and I 
only love and esteem you the more for it." Rapp died in 1821, 
being at the time lieutenant general of the cavah-y. After his 
death, appeared the interesting memoires of General Rapp, written 
by himself (Paris, 1823). 

^^EBASTIANI, Horace Francois della Porta, French minister of 
^^ foreign aifairs, was born in Corsica, in 1775, and having 
entered the French service in 1792, rose rapidly through the differ- 
ent ranks to that of colonel (1799). Colonel Sebastiani took an 
active part in the revolution of 18 Brumaire, and, in 1802, the first 
consul sent him on a mission to the Levant. After having brought 
about a reconcilliation of the differences between the court of 
Sweden and the regency of Tripoli, he compelled the pacha to 
acknowledge the Italian republic and salute its flag, he repaired to 
Alexandria, and had an interview with General Stewart, in order to 
insist on the terms of the treaty of Amiens for the evacuation of 
Alexandria. To this demand the English general replied, that he 
had not received any orders from his court. M. Sebastiani went 
therefore, to Cairo, and had many conferences with the pacha on 
the subject, and ordered, in coformity with the order of first consul, 
to open a communication with the beys, but the offer was not ac- 
cepted, the orders of the Porte being to make a war of extermina- 
tion. He afterwards went to St, Jean d'Acre, with the object of 
settling with the pacha a treaty of commerce and found him pacifi- 
cally inclined. In November he set out on his return to France, 
having accomplished all the objects of his mission. He was, after 



42 

his arrival, employed on various services, and among tlie rest, in a 
diplomatic mission to Germany. He distingnislied himself in the 
campaign of 1804, was wounded at the battle of Austerlitz, and 
obtained the rank of general of division. Napoleon entertained a 
high opinion of his diplomatic talents, and named him, in 1806» 
ambassador to the Ottoman Porte — a mission which he filled for 
some years, with much ability. He established, at Constantinople, 
a printing office for the Turkish and Arabic languages, and by these 
means contributed not a little to tlie French influence in the country. 
The English having forced a passage of the Dardanelles, and 
menaced Constantinople, Sebastiani immediately formed a plan of 
defence, marked out the batteries, and prepared for the most 
vigorous resistance; but the inhabitants broke out into a revolt and 
he was obliged to depart for France. He was subsequently sent to 
Spain, where he distinguished himself on numerous occasions: and he 
served in the Russian German war under Murat July 15, 1812 he 
was surprised by the Russians at Drissa, but he recovered his char- 
acter by his exertions at the battle of Borodino. On the invasion of 
France, he had a command in Champagne, and defended Chalons. 
April 10, M Sebastiani sent to M. Talleyrand his adhesion to the 
provisional government, and June 1 , received from the King the 
cross of St. Louis. On the return of N'apoleon in 1815, he was 
elected deputy of the lower chamber, and after second abdication of 
N^apoleon, was one of the commissioners to treat for peace with the 
allies. In 1819, he was elected a member for the chamber of 
deputies, by the island of Corsica and has since shown himself a 
friend to constitutional liberty and of ITational independence. His 
lucid and manly eloquence has been employed to throw light over 
all great questions of finance, war, foreign politics and domestic 
administration, and has shown him to possess at once, the talents of 
an orator and the knowledge of a statesman. After the revolution 
of 1830, General Sebastiani received the portfolio of the marine in 
the Guizot ministry, and in Kovember, that of foreign affairs under 
Lafitte, which he continued under Perrier. After that he filled 
many important offices in the government of France. He dipd in 
Paris, July 21 1851. 



43 

i^^TTCHET. Louis, Gabriel, duke of Albufera, marshal of France, 
^^ born at Lyons in 1770, entered the military service at an 
early age (1799) and passed rapidly through inferior ranks. In 1^96 
he was attached to the army of Italy, and attracted the notice of 
General Bonaparte, by his courage, boldness and caution. He then 
served with distinction under Massena and Joubert, and was one of 
the most active and successful of Napoleon's generals in the cam- 
paigns of 1805 and 1806. In 1808 he received the command of a 
division in Spain, and was almost constantly victorious, till after the 
battle of Yittoria. His brilliant service in that country obtained him 
the marshal's staif, and the title of duke. After the restoration, 
Suchet, was created peer of France. Having accepted, under Napo- 
leon, a command during the hundred days, he was deprived of his 
seat under second restoration, but readmitted in 1819. He died in 
1826. 

^lAYOUST, Louis, Nicolas, duke of Auerstadt and prince of 
^^ Eckmuhl, marshal and peer of France, born in 1770, at Annoux, 
in the former province of Burgundy. He was of a noble family, 
an studied at the same time with Bonaparte, in the military school 
at Brienne. He distinguished himself under Dumourier, in the 
battle of Jemappe and Neerwinden. When Dumourier, after the 
battle of Neerwinden, treated with Coburg, Davoust conceived the 
bold design in seizing the former in the midst of his army, and 
nearly succeeded in the attempt. In June 1793 he was made gen- 
eral, but the decree which removed the ex-nobles from the service, 
deprived him of his command. The 9th Thermidor restored him to 
the army. He was present at the siege of Luxemburg, and after- 
wards on the Rhine, under Pichegru. He was taken prisoner at 
Manheim, but was soon exchanged and distinguished himself in 
1797, at the passage of the Rhine, by his prudence and courage. In 
the Italian campaigns, under Bonaparte, he became zealously 
attached to that general. He accompanied him to Egypt, where he 
distinguished himself by his intrepidity. It was he, who after the 
battle of Abo Qkir attacked and conquered the village. He embarked 
for France from Alexandria, with Desaix, after the convention of 



44 

El Arish. Tbey were captured by an English frigate, near tlie 
Hieres. Bonaparte afterwards gave him the chief command of'the 
cavalry in the army of Italy, After the battle of Marengo, he was 
made chief of the grenadiers of the consular guard, which, from this 
battle, was called the granite columns. When Kapoleon ascended 
the throne 1804 , he created Davoust marshal of the Empire, grand 
cross of the legion of honor and colonel general of the Imperial 
guard of the grenadiers. In the campaign of 1805 , he showed 
himself worthy of his appointment, particularly at the battle ot 
Austerlitz, where he commanded the right wing of the army. In 
1806, he marched at the head of his corps into Saxony, and, at 
Auerstadt, where he commanded tlie right wing, contributed so 
much to the success of the day, by his skillful manouvres, that 
^Napoleon created him duke of Auerstadt. After the peace of Tilsit, 
he was made commander in chief of the army of the Ehine. In the 
war of J.809, against Austria, his marches through the upper Palati- 
nate, and the engagement at Ratisbon, were hazardous enterprises. 
He had important share in the victory at Eckmuhl. In the battle 
of Aspern, only one of his four divisions was engaged, the greater 
part of which, with its general, St. Hilaire, perished on the left 
bank of the Danube. In the battle of Wagram, Davoust commanded 
the right wing, to the manouvres of which, the retreat of the Austri- 
ans was mainly owing. After the peace, Napoleon created him 
prince of Eckmuhl, and in 1811 appointed him governor general of 
the Hanseatic departments. In Russia 1812, his division was de- 
feated on the retreat from Moscow. In 1813, he commaded 50,000 
men, Frencli and Danes in Mecklenburg ; but was soon besieged in 
Hamburg, which suffered at the time very severely. Davoust was 
in a critical situation, and could support his army only at the ex- 
pense of its citizens. He lost during the siege as many as 11,000 
men. In 1814, he published, at Paris a defence of himself from the 
charge pf cruelty towards Hamburg. On the return of Napoleon to 
Paris, in March 1815, he was made minister of war. "When the 
allies advanced to Paris, after the battle of Waterloo, Davoust, as 
commander in chief concluded the military convention with Blucher 
and Wellington, in compliance of which he led the Irench army 
beyond the Loire. He submitted to Louis XYIII, exhorting the 
army to follow his example, and in obedience to the order of the 



45 



King, surrendered the command to marshal Macdonald. Davoust died 
June ], 1823. Firmness of character, personal bravery and a military 
rigor often approaching to cruelty were his chaiacteristics. Davoust 
left two daughters, and a son 30 years of age, who inherited the rank 
of a peer. 

^ERTHIEK, prince of Neufchatel and Wagram, born in Paris, 
^i December 30, 1753, was, while yet young, employed in the gen- 
eral staff, and served in America, and fought with Lafayette for the 
liberty of the United States. In the first years of the revolution, he 
was appointed Major General in the National Guard of Versailles. 
December 28, 1791, he was chief of the general staff in the army of 
marshal Luckner, marched against La Vendee in 1793 and joined the 
army of Italy, with the rank of general of division. In October, 1797, 
General Bonaparte sent him to Paris to deliver to the directory the 
treaty of Campo Formio. In January, 1798, he received the chief 
command of the army of Italy, and was ordered by the directory to 
march against the dominions of the pope. Being much attached to 
General Bonaparte, he followed him to Egypt as chief of the general 
staff. After the 18th of Brumaire, Bonaparte appointed him minister 
of war. He afterwards accompanied Bonaparte to Italy, in 1800, and 
contributed to the passage of 3t. Bernard and the victory of Marengo. 
He signed the armistice of Alexandria, formed the provisional gov- 
ernment of Piedmont, and went on an extraordinary mission to Spain- 
He accompanied Napoleon to Milan, June, 1805, to be present at his 
Coronation, and, in October, was appointed chief of the general staff 
of the grand army in Germany. October 19, he signed the capitula- 
tion of Ulm, with Mack, and December 6, the armistice of Austerlitz. 
Having, in 1806, accompanied the Emperor in his campaign against 
Prussia, he signed the armistice of Tilsit, June, 1807. He continued 
to be the companion of Napoleon in all his expeditions. In the cam- 
paign against Austria, in 1809, he distinguished himself at Wagram, 
and received the title of the Pritice of Wagram. In 1810, as 
proxy of Napoleon, he received the hand of Maria Louisa, daughter of 
the Emperor Francis Joseph, and accompanied her to France. In 
1812, he was with the army of Russia as chief of the general staff, 
which post he also held in 1813. After Napoleon's abdication, he 



46 

lost his principality of Neufchatel, but retained his other honors, and 
possessed the favor and confidence of Louis XVIII, whom after Napo- 
leon's return, he accompanied to the Netherlands, whence he repaired 
to his family at Bamberg, where he arrived May 30. After his arrival 
at this place, he was observed to be sunk in a profound melancholy ; 
and when on the afternoon of June 1, the music of the Russian troops 
on their march to the French borders, was heard at the gates of the 
city, he put an end to his life by throwing himself from a window of 
the third fetory of his palace. He left a son, Alexander and two 
daughters. 

fiESSIERES, Jean Baptiste, duke of Istria, marshal of the French 



^^ Empire, born at Praissac in the department of Lot, August 6th, 
1768, killed at Lutzen, March 1, 1813. He entered the constitutional 
guard of Louis XVI, in 1791, served as a non-commissioned officer in 
the mounted Chasseurs of the Pyrenees, and soon after became a 
captain of Chasseurs. After the victory of Roveredo, September 4, 
1796, Bonaparte promoted him on the battle-field to the rank of 
Colonel. Commander of the guides of the general in chief during the 
Italian campaign of 1796-97. Colonel of the same corps in Egypt, he 
remained attached to it for the greater part of his life. In 1802. the 
rank of general of division was conferred upon him, and in 1804, that 
of marshal of the Empire. He fought at the battles of Roveredo 
Rivoli, St. Jean d'Acre, Aboukir, Marengo — where he commanded 
the last decisive cavalry charge — Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Fried- 
land. Dispatched in 1808 to assume the command of a division of 
18,000 men stationed in the Spanish Province of Salamanca, he found 
on his arrival, that General Cuesta had taken up a position between 
Valladolid and Burgos, thus threatening to intersect the line of com- 
munication of Madrid with France. Bessieres attacked him and won 
the victory of Medina del Rio Secco. After the failure of English 
Walcheren expedition, Napoleon substituted Bessieres for Bernadotte 
in command of the Belgian army. In the same year (1809) he was 
created duke of Istria. At the head of a cavalry division he routed 
the Austi'ian General HohenzoUern, at the battle of Essling. During 
the Russian expedition, he acted as chief commander of the mounted 



47 

guard, and on the opening of the German campaign of 1813 as a com- 
mander of the French cavalry. He died on the battle field while 
attacking the defile of Rippach, in Saxony, on the eve of the battle of 
Lntzen. His popularity with the common soldiers may be inferred 
from the circumstance that it was thought prudent to withhold the 
news of his death for some time from the army. 

IVJrOlN^THO L 0]V. 

^ONTHOLON, Charles, Tristan, count de, justly celebrated for 
his generous adherence to the fallen fortunes of his illustrious 
master, was born at Paris, in 1783. His father was colonel of a regi- 
ment of dragoons, and young Montholon entered the army at the age 
of 15. He commenced his career by serving under Bonaparte, on the 
celebrated day of the 18th of Brumaire, and was in the list of the 
officers who received swords, as marks of distinction, from the first 
consul, on that occasion. Appointed aid-de-camp to marshal Berthier 
before he had attained the age of 21, he served in that capacity, in 
every campaign, subsequent to that period, and distinguished himself, 
particularly at the battles of Austerlitz, Wagram, Jena and Friedland. 
During a time when the state of his health, and the effects of his 
wounds, did not prevent him to undergo the fatigues of actual military 
service, Napoleon employed him in various important missions, and 
attached him to his own person, as one of his chamberlains. He was 
afterwards appointed to the command of the department of the Loire, 
and was proceeding to oppose a vigorous resistance to the Russians 
when he received the news of the Enperor's abdication. His first 
thought was to resign his command, and hasten to his master at 
Versailles. From this hour, his fate and that of Napoleon became 
inseparable. He held the rank of general during the hundred days. 
He served Napoleon as chamberlain, after the battle of Waterloo, both 
at the palace Elysee and Malmaison; and, finally, with his wife and 
children voluntarily partook of the ex-Emperor's imprisonment at St. 
Helena, and continued with him until the period of his decease. He 
was executor of the Emperor. He returned to Paris and in connection 
with Gourgaud edited the MSS of Napoleon. He then engaged in 
commercial speculations in order to repair his fortunes. These proved 
unsuccessful ; rnd in July 1829, he was declared a bankrupt. From 
this period, he lived in obscurity, until he once more reappeared to the 



48 

notice of the public, as a partaker of the attempt, made by PrincQ 
Louis Napoleon in the month of August 1840, by landing with a small 
party near Boulogne, on the French coast, to excite an insurrection ot 
inhabitants in favor of his family. Montholon was arrested and tried 
by the chamber of peers for high treason against the existing govern- 
ment, and in despite of his efforts, and those of M Berryer in his de- 
fense, he was sentenced ,to 20 years imprisonment in the castle of 
Ham — but at the end of a few years received a pardon — He died in 
August 1853, 

IJ^MURAT, Joachim, the son of an Inn keeper at Cahors, born in 
m^^ 1V71, was a man of an elegant person, spirited and active, but 
distinguished for the most daring courage, rather than sagacity, and 
strength of mind, and finally, fell a sacrifice to his rashness. When a 
boy, he escaped from a college in Toulouse, where he had been placed 
to prepare him for the ecclesiastic i^rofession. He was afterwards a 
common chasseur, and deserted ; served in the constitutional guard of 
Louis XVI; then entered the 12th regiment of mounted chasseurs ; 
rose by his zealous Jacobinism to the rank of lieutenant colonel: was 
afterwards removed as a terrorist, and remained without employment 
till his fate placed him in connection with Bonaparte, whom he accom- 
panied as an aid to Italy in 1796. Here he distinguished himself as a 
cavalry ofiicer by his imj^etuous courage, and followed the general to 
Egypt. He decided the victory over the Turks at Aboukir, and re- 
turned with Bonaparte as a general of division. On the 18th 
Brumaire, he expelled the council of five hundred from the hall of St. 
Cloud, at the point of the bayonet, and in 1800, married, Maria, Annon 
ciade Caroline, the youngest sister of the fii'st consul. He was present 
at the battle of Marengo, and in 1804, was made marshal of the 
Empire. His services in the campaign of 1805, against Austria, in 
which he entered Vienna, at the head of the army, was rewarded, in 
1806, with the grand duchy of Berg. The war of 1806 with Prussia, 
and of 1807 with Russia where he followed up the victories of his 
master, with his cavalry, procured for him the distinction of occupy- 
ing Madrid with a French army in 1806. Napoleon placed him on 
the throne of Naples, July 15, 1808. Murat governed with prudence 



49 

and vigor. His attempt to conquer Sicily miscarried. His wife, a 
woman of sense and character, effected much good at home, while 
Murat himself, was called to accompany Napoleon to Russia, at the 
head of all his cavalry. He was here defeated at Tauratina, October 
T8th. Upon the retreat, ISTapoleon entrusted to him the command of 
the wreck of the army. The Emperor accused him in the Moniteur, 
of incapacity of his command. Murat returned to Naples, full of in- 
dignation, and sought the friendship of Austria. He, however, once 
more fought with Napoleon, in the fatal campaign of Germany (1813). 
After the battle of Leipsie, he returned with his army to his kingdom, 
and negotiated for its preservation, with Austria and England. The 
former actually concluded an alliance with him (June 11, 1814), to 
which Russia and Prussia acceeded, in 1815; but England would 
enter only into a truce, since Ferdinand of Sicily her ally, would re- 
ceive no indemnification for Naples. The situation of Murat was con- 
sequently doubtful. He advanced with his army, in February, 1814, 
as far as the Po, but his hesitation in attacking the French excited the 
mistrust of England, as much as the hesitation of England to acknowl- 
edge him as an ally had excited his own suspicions. At the congress 
of Vienna, the Bourbons solicited for his dethronement, and England 
accused him of treachery. He tookuj) arms in 1815, for Najjoleon, as 
was then thought, while he was yet negotiating at Vienna, and 
formed a plan to make himself master of Italy as far as the Po 
Towards the end of March, after Napoleon had entered France, he 
advanced with his army, partly by Rimini, partly by Rome, Florence 
and Modena, attacked the Austrians, and called the Italians to inde- 
pendence, at the very time that Austria and the allies, upon his i-e- 
peated assurances in March, that he would remain true to them 
against Napoleon, had determined to recognize him as King of 
Naples. It was too late. Austria, therefore, took the field against 
him. Forced to retreat atFei-rara by Bianchi (April 12), surrounded 
by Nugent, defeated by Bianchi at Macerata or Tolentino, May 2d 
and 3d, Murat was deserted by the greater part of his army. May 19, 
he entered Naples as a fugitive. The country had now declared 
against him. He fled in disguise to the island of Ischia, from whence- 
he sailed for Fiance, and landed at Cannes, May 25th. His lamily 
went on board the English fleet, and found in Austria piotection and 



50 

home. Napoleon would not permit him to come to Paris. But he 
kept up a correspondence from Toulon with his adherents in Italy. 
After the overthrow of Napoleon, he escaped, in the midst of contin- 
ual dangers, to Corsica, while his agent Macirone, treated with the 
allies for a place of refuge for him. But pursued as a rebel to Corsica, 
invited to return to Naples by his adherents and by traitors, and en- 
couraged to do so by several brave officers, who were devoted to him, 
he determined to sail, with 250 of his adherents, to Naples, to recover 
his lost throne. Every thing was prepared, when his aid Macirone, 
brought an Austrian passport, and the permission to reside in Austria. 
It was too late. Murat set sail that very night (Sept. 28), with six 
barks. A gale on the 6th of October, off the coast of Calabria, dis- 
persed his fleet. Only two of the vessels entered the road of S. Lucido. 
Murat now wished to sail for Trieste, but the captain of his vessel 
declared that he must land for provisions. Murat then determined 
to go on shore. General Franceschetti and 26 soldiers attended him 
(October 8). But his declaration " I am Joachim, your King." pro- 
duced no effect. He was pursued. He then forced his way back to 
the water, and leaped into a boat to go to his ship, but was seized 
and carried in chains to Pizzo, where he was brought before a court 
martial and condemned to be shot. The sentence was executed 
October 13. He met his fate with courage. 

fICTOR, Perrin, duke of Belluno, was born at La Marclie, in 
I Lorraine, in 1766, and entered the service as a drummer in 
1Y81, distinguished himself at the siege of Toulon, served in the army 
of the Pyrenees, and in 1796 was one of the most conspicuous of the 
French generals — was appointed to command in La Vendee, and by 
his gentleness and wisdom restored tranquility — in 1799 his division 
in Italy rendered many services. In the battle of Marengo, he sus- 
tained the whole force of the Austrian army for eight hours, till the 
main body of the French came up — for this conduct he received a 
■sabre of ho lor. He afterwards commanded the Bavarian army, until 
Ihe treaty of Amiens, when he went to Denmark as ambassador from 
IFrance. At the battle of Jena, he was wounded. He contributed 
largely to the victory of Pultusk, and fought with great bravery and 
.success in various battles dm-ing the campaign of 1806. Commanding 



61 

the first corps of the grand army, at the battle of Friedland, he deter- 
mined the success of that day, and was raised to the dignity of marshal 
on the field of battle. After the treaty of Tilsit, he was appointed to 
the government of Prussia, and concilliated the good will of the 
people by the equity and moderation of his conduct, during the fifteen 
months that he filled that important ofiice. In 1808, he held a com- 
mand in Spain, where he added greatly to his military fame. He 
obtained a victory over the duke del Infantado, at Ucles, and made 
15,000 prisoners, and destroyed the army commanded by Cuesta. At 
the battle of Talavera, his corps displayed singular valor, but he was 
not sustained in that action ; and his skilful and daring march across 
the Sierra Morena compelled the Spaniards to abandon the fortified 
pass of Pena-Perros, which laid open all Andalusia to the French. 
Charged with the investment of Cadiz, he raised works which were 
proofs against all attacks of the English, under Graham and Span- 
iards during his command there. He quitted the blockade of that 
place to take the command in the campaign of Russia, and distin- 
guished himself particularly at the battle of Beresina. In 1813, he 
commanded the second corps, which at the battle of Dresden, carried 
the left of the allies, and fixed the fortune of the day, making 15,000 
Austrian prisoners. He defeated the enemy at Wachau, and sustained 
his reputation at Hanau. After the invasion of France by the allies, 
in 1814, he defended with unequal forces, the Vosges, foot by foot. 
Being compelled to fall back before superior numbers, he frequently 
faced the allies and beat them. At the battle of Brienne, he took the 
village of that name, guarded by 15,000 Russians and Prussians. On 
the 9th of February, he retreated upon the Seine, to second the opera- 
tions of Napoleon, and defended the bridges of Nugent until the 16th. 
He directed the brilliant affairs ofNangis and Villeneuve on the 17th, 
and commanded the advanced guard at the battle of Craonne, on the 
Yth of March and was badly wounded. After the restoration of the 
Bourbons, he received the command of the 2d military division, at 
Mezieres, and used his utmost endeavors on Napoleon's invasion of 
1815, to prevent the defection of his troops. Unable to accomplish 
that object, he quitted Chalons at the very moment Avhen they were 
preparing for his arrest. After the King's second return, he was 
named president of the electoral college, of the Loir and Cher, peer of 
France and Major General of the Royal guard. When the Marquis 



52 

of Latour Maubourg was sent to Constantinople, in 1821, Victor was 
appointed to succeed him as minister of war. On the lYth of March 
the King named him Major General of the army of the Pyrenees. 
After the army had crossed the Bidassoa, Belluno returned to Paris, 
and was soon after succeeded in the war department by the baron 
Daraas. Towards the close of his life he lived very retired, in Parisj 
where he died on the first of March 1841. 

II^^ORTIER, Edward Adolphus, Casimir Joseph, duke of Treviso, 
^SS3 marshal and peer of France. He was born at Carabray, in 1768, 
received a careful education, entered the military service in 1791, as 
lieutenant in a regiment of carabineers, afterwards became captain of 
the first battalion of volunteers of the department of the north, took 
part in the battles at Quiberon (April 30, 1793), Jemappes, Neerwin- 
den, Hondtschoote, and distinguished himself on all occasions. In 
1794, he was conspicuous at the battle of Altenkirchen, and treated 
with the elector for the surrender of Mentz. In 1799, he was made 
general of brigade, and soon after general of division. March 15, 1800, 
he received the command of Paris, and evinced his attachment to 
Bonaparte at the time of the unsuccessful attempt against the life of 
the first consul on the third Nivose. After hostilities and recom- 
menced against England, in 1803, he occupied the electorate of 
Hanover. On his return, he was made one of the four generals of the 
consular guard, and May 19, 1804, marshal of the Empire. In Septem- 
ber, he took the command of a division of the grand army; in October 
passed to the left bank of the Danube and was defeated in the battle 
of Durnstein by Kutusoff In the war with Prussia, he took posses- 
sion of the electorate of Hesse (Nov. 1, 1806), passed through Ham- 
burg to the shores of the Baltic, occupied the Hanse towns, and 
conducted the hostilities against Sweden, till Napoleon, towards the 
end of the campaign, recalled him to the grand army, where he took 
part in the battle of Friedland. He then commanded in Spain, where 
in connection with Lannes, he took Saragossa, defeated the Spaniards, 
at Ocana, and assisted Soult in his plans against Badajoz. In 1812, 
he commanded in Russia, and was left in the Kremlin by Napoleon, 
when he marched out of Moscow, with orders to blow it up. After 



53 

the reopening of the campaign, in 1813, he was placed at the head ol 
the young guards, fought at Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Hanau, and in 
1814 in the different battles in France, and April 8th acceeded to 
Napoleon's dethronement. Louis XVIII made him peer of France. 
He was in Lisle when the King fled to that city, in 1815, and informed 
the King of the unfavorable disposition of the garrison. Louis went to 
Ghent, and Mortier entered the service of Napoleon. After the second 
restoration, he lost the dignity of peer, but was made commander of 
the military division at Kouen. In 1816, he was placed in the 
chamber of deputies, and 1819 again made a peer. He took very 
little part in the political events which led to the revolution of July 
1830. In October 1834 he was made minister of war and president of 
the council of ministers. On the 28th the following July, he accom- 
panied the King (Louis Philippe), to the review of the National 
Guards of Paris and its vicinity, when he fell victim to the explo- 
sion of the infernal machine of Fieschi. The chambers signified their 
respect for him by voting a pension of 20,000 francs to his widow? 
with the reversion of it to his children. 

SOULT. 

/^^OULT, Jean de Dieu, duke ofDalmatia, marshal and peer of 
^^ France, was born in 1*796, at St, Arm and, entered early into the 
army as a private soldier, and became a subaltern in 1790. He was 
adjutant to the division of Lefebvre, on the Moselle, in the campaigns 
of 1794 and 1795, and was a warm partisan of the revolutionary 
measures of that epoch. He was appointed general of brigade in 1796 
and was subsequently raised to the rank of general of division, and as 
such he served with the army of Italy, and was entrusted with the 
military command of Turin. He afterwards made the campaign of 
1799, with the army destined to combat the Austro-Russian forces 
and was shut up with Massena, at Genoa, where he was wounded and 
made prisoner in a sortie. The battle of Marengo gave him an oppor- 
tunity of returning home . On the elevation of Bonaparte to the chief 
consulate, the proofs of courage and ability which Soul t had shown 
occasioned his being appointed to command a corps of observation in 
the kingdom of Naples. In 1803, he was named commandant of th© 
corps of St. Omers, and afterwards marshal of France, on the 



54 

establisliment of the imperial dignity. In 1805, he commanded one 
of the divisions of the grand army destined to act in Austria. At 
the battle of Austerlitz, he commanded the centre of the army, and 
contributed, by a very vigorous attack, to the success of the day. 
He distinguished himself also at the battle of Jena and Eylau. On 
the peace of Tilsit, he was appointed to a command in Spain, and 
on the 10th of November, 1808, he attacked the army of Estrema- 
dura, put the Spaniards to route, and seized on Burgos and Santan- 
der. He was charged to observe the movements of Sir John Moore, 
at Salamanca, and he pursued the English to Corunna. Marshal 
Soult was afterwards sent into Portugal, where, at first, he obtained 
some success, but was compelled to make a precipitate retreat, with 
the loss of bis artillery and baggage. Joseph Bonaparte, having 
lost the battle of Talavera, marshal Soult marched in connection 
with Ney and Mortier, to his succor ; and on their approach Lord 
"Wellington retired into Portugal. At this time, he was appointed 
Major General of the French armies in Spain, and it w^as under his 
advice and direction that Joseph Bonaparte gained the battle of 
Ocana, on the 19th of November, 1809. He was next charged with 
the conquest of Andalusia, and in consequence, forced the passages 
of Sierra Morena, and marched on Seville, of which he took posses- 
sion. After the battle of Salamanca, he evacuated Andalusia, and 
the French armies, with the exception of that of marshal Suchet, 
were concentrated at Burgos. Soult was now recalled, in order to 
be sent to Germany ; he was, however, soon summoned back. The 
loss of the battle of Yittoria, having exposed the frontiers of France, 
the marshal was sent to Bayonne to take the command of the rem- 
nant of the routed French corps. He speedily organized a fromida- 
ble force, with which, he twice endeavored to deliver Pampeluna; 
but the allies advanced into the French territory, and Soult was 
obliged to retire upon Tarbes, in order to cover Toulouse . At this 
time he published a proclamation, in which he discovered great 
zeal in the cause of Napoleon, Arrived at Toulouse, a bloody battle 
ensued, which led to the surrender of that city to the allies. On the 
restoration of the Bourbons, the King confided to Soult the com- 
mand of the thirteenth military division in the government of 
Brittany. In December, 1814:, he was made minister of war. On 
he landing of Napoleon, the suspicions of the court obliged him to 



55 

retire from his post, but it was not till commanded by the Em- 
peror, that he presented himself at the Tuilleries. He was then 
raised to the peerage, and appointed to high military command. 
He fought at Fleurus and Waterloo, and, on the entrance of the 
allies into the capital of France, retired with the army beyond the 
Loire, and was comprised in the ordinance ot the 24th of July. 
On his banishment, he published a memoir with a view of refuting 
the charge of treason brought against him for adhering to Napoleon 
on his return. In 1819, he was included in the amnesty, and his 
military distinctions were restored in 1821. In November 1827, he 
was created minister of war, which post he has continued to retain 
during several changes of ministry. Soult was distinguished for 
his energy, ability and great military and political capacity. Napo- 
leon said of him, "Soult is an excellent minister of war, and an in- 
valuable Major General." He represented his country at the 
coronation of Qii'='-en Yictoria, in June 1838, and during his visit to 
England was not only treated by the prominent individuals of that 
country with all the respect and courtesy due to his official station 
and his eminent military reputation, but was every where, when he 
presented himself in public, to his own astonishment, warmly, and 
even enthusiastically, greeted by the populace. He spent his latter 
years at Soultsberg, the beautiful country estate he owned in the 
vicinity of his native village, and died JSTovember 26th, 1852. 

:o E K.TV^o o T TT e:. 

tEENADOTTE, Prince of Ponte-Corvo, afterwards, Charles 
XIY, King of Sweden and Norway. This prince, whose politi- 
cal station practically refutes the necessity of the principle of legiti- 
macy, was born June 26, 1Y64, at Pan at the foot of the Pyrenees. 
His lather was a lawyer. His uncommon intellectual cultivation, 
shows that he was educated with great care. In 1780, he entered 
the military profession, and in 1789, at the age of 26 years, was 
still a sargeant. When the revolution broke out, he entered with 
enthusiasm the ranks of the defenders of his country, and rose 
quickly through the steps of military promotion. In 1794, he was 
general of division in the battle of Fleurus ; in 1795, he contributed 
essentially to the passage of the French over the Rhine, at Neuwied 
in 1796, he served in Jourdan's army His services on the Lahn, 
the blockade of Mentz, the battle of Neyhoff, the passage over the 



56 

Eednitz, tlie taking of Altorf, the capture of Neumark, and the ad- 
vantages obtained over Kray, established his reputation as a general. 
He afterwards, led reinforcements to the army of Italy, and was 
entrusted, by Bonaparte, with the siege of the fortress of Gradisca . 
Shortly before the 18th Fructidor, Bonaparte chose him to carry to 
the directory the banners taken at the battle of Rivoli, and, in his 
letter, called him one of the generals who had most contributed to 
the renown of the Italian army. After the treaty of Campo Formio, 
he was appointed ambassador to Yienna. In the campaign of 1Y99, 
as a commander of the army of observation, was entrusted to cross 
the Khine and invest Phillipsburg. When Leclerc was appointed 
to command the expedition destined for St. Domingo, Bernadotte 
expressed himself very explicitly against the competency of Leclerc. 
An alienation thus took place between him and Bonaparte — and his 
brother-in-law Joseph — could only bring about a kind of political 
reconcilliation between them. After the peace of Luneville, he was 
appointed ambassador to the United States, but the revival of the 
war prevented his proceeding thither. In 1804, the first consul 
sent him to Hanover in the place of Mortier and his humanity 
gained him the love of the Hanoverians. In the same year he was 
made marshal of the Empire. On the renewal of hostilities with 
Austria, Bernadotte led the army through Anspach, effected a 
junction with the Bavarians at Wurtzburg, and in this way sur- 
rounding the Austrians, contributed to the victory at Ulm. In the 
battle of Austerlitz, Barnadotte's corps constituted the centre, which 
withstood all the attacks of the Russian army. June 5, 1806, 
Napoleon created him prince of Ponte-Corvo. In the war against 
Prussia he led the first corps d'arrnee, advanced from Beyreuth 
through Hofi", to the Saxon vogtland, and cut ofi'the corps of count 
Tauenzien from the Prussian main army. October 14 he advanced 
from Dornburg, in the rear of the Prussian army, pursued General 
Blucher to Lubeck, and compelled him to capitulate. He next 
marched through Poland and Prussia proj)er, and fought January 
25th, 180Y, the bloody engagement of Mohrungen, by which the 
Russians were prevented from surprising the grand army, and 
driving it over the Yistula. He was wounded at Spangen June 
5th. From the close of 1807 to the spring of 1809, he commanded 
the French army which remained in the north of Germany. War 
being broken out anew, in 1809, between Austria and France, he 



57 

led the Saxon allies to the battle of Wagram, and maintainea fiie 
possession of the burning village for two hours, but as they had 
lost many of their number, the Prince commanded General Dupas 
to support him. But Dupas refused, because he was ordered, he 
said, from a higher quarter to remain in his position. Astonished 
at this, the Prince made preparations to save the remainder of the 
Saxon troops, and then hastened to headquarters to complain to the 
Emperor of the violation of military rules. " If his death," he said, 
" were desired, there were lesis odious means than one by which so 
many brave men must perish with him." The Emperor tried to 
appease the Prince by saying that such errors were unavoidable in 
so extensive movements. But Bernadotte took his dismission and 
went to Paris. The deputies of Sweden brought him, in September 
1810, information of his appointment as successor to the throne, and 
the crown prince of this kingdom. Napoleon had no influence on 
this choice, for; when he learned, in July 1810, that the Swedish 
diet was assembling at (Erebro, to chose a successor to the throne, 
he expressed a wish that the King of Denmark might be elected. 
But when the Swedish deputies came to Paris, the prince referred 
them to the Emperor, who assured them that he would not oppose 
the free choice of the diet, though it should fall on the Prince of 
Ponte-Corvo. After the Prince was elected, ISTapoleon made him 
several promises in favor of Sweden, but their mutual personal re- 
lations, were not on that account more friendly than before. Octo- 
ber 18th Ponte-Corvo reached the Danish castle of Fredericksburg. 
and on the 20th amid the thunder of cannon, he landed at Helsing- 
borg and had his first meeting with the King Charles XI. I. On 
the 31st, he was presented to the diet. By an act of November 5th, 
1810, the King adopted him and he assumed the name of Charles 
John. The King being attacked with sickness in the following 
year, he committed to the crown prince, March lYth, 1811 the gov- 
ernment of Sweden, which he conducted till January 7, 1812, with 
wisdom and energy. Meanwhile, the crown prince so far yielded 
to the demands of Emperor Napoleon, that Sweden declared war 
against Great Brittain, November lY, 1810. But after Napoleon had 
demanded, in vain, 2000 Swedish sailors for his fleet at Brest, and 
Sweden refused to enforce the continental system in all its vigor, he 
occupied Swedish Pomerania, without giving any explanation on 



68 

the subject, and the French ambassador, Alquier, at Stockholm, 
used. language which implied that the crown Prince was to have in 
view sok^ly the interests of France. When Charles XIII resumed 
the government, the crown Prince made a remarkable report re- 
specting his administration and the situation of the kingdom. In 
conformity with his views, the decree of July 29, 1812, was issued, 
by which the Swedish ports were opened to all nations. This reso- 
lution, a consequence of the increasing differences between Sweden 
and France was justified by the crown Prince, in a letter to Napo- 
leon. In the war between France and Russia, in 1812, Sweden re- 
fused the alliance of France, and, in consequence, of the provocation 
which slie had received from that country, concluded a secret league 
with Russia at St. Petersburg. April 8th, 1812, by the terms of 
which she promised to send an army of 25,000 to Germany, but 
Russia previously pledged itself to unite Norway and Sweden, either 
by negotiation or force of arms. Peace between Great Brittain and 
Sweden, was also effected at CErebro, July 12, 1812. Napoleon's 
headquarters w^ere then between Smolenk and Moscow. Sweden's 
policy required the greatest possible precaution, its former declara- 
tion of war against France was not therefore made till Charles John 
had reached the headquarters of Alexander and Frederick William 
at Trachenberg, in Silesia, July 9-12, 1813. The crown Prince evi- 
dently showed that he did not wish to attack France, but only to 
guard the interest of Sweden, while he promised to co-operate 
against Napoleon's plan of conquest, several times, therefore, he 
urged the Emperor to make peace. For the same purpose he wrote 
to Ney, after the battle of Dennewitz, September 6th, 1813, 
certain it is, that he endeavored to prevent the passage of the Rhine 
by the allies, for the purpose of penetrating into the interior of 
France. May 18, 1813, the crown Prince arrived at Stralsund to 
place himself at the head of the Swedish army in Germany. His 
letter to the Emperor, March 20, 1813, had been without effect. He 
had the command of the united army of north Germany, consisting 
of the Russian corps of Winzingerode, Woronzow, Czerniszew, of 
the English under Walmoden, the Prussian under Bulow, and the 
Swedish under the field marshal Stedingk. By the victory of 
Grossbeeren, August 23, over the French marshal Oudinot, he 
saved Berlin. By the still greater victory of Dennewitz over mar- 
shal Ney, September 6th, the capital of Prussia was a second time 



59 

saved. October 4, the Crownprince crossed the Elba at Kosslan. 
His march, on the lYth to Taucha, contributed much to the result 
of 18th October, at Leipsic, on which day Charles John acquired 
new reputation. On the following day, he formed a junction with 
his allies at Leipsic. While they pursued the enemy in a direct line 
to his frontiers, Charles John marched along the Elbe to Mecklen- 
burg against marshal Davoust and the Danes. Lubeck was soon 
conquered, and ^he Danish army separated from the French, which 
threw itself into Hamburg. A corps was left to prosecute the siege 
of the city, while the crown prince, with the main army, turned to- 
wards Holstein. At the end of three months, his out-posts extended 
to Kissen and Fredricca, and Frederick YI, King of Denmark, in 
the treaty of peace which the crown prince concluded with him 
January 14, 1811 at Kiel, ceded Norway to Sweden. Hereupon 
Charles John, with the greater part of his army, proceeded through 
Hanover to the Frontier of France. This march hoM^ever, was exe- 
cuted so slowly that before he arrived at the theatre of war; Alexan- 
der and the King of Prussia had already entered Paris. The crown 
prince of Sweden now came to Paris, and had an interview with 
the King of France in Compiegne, but soon left France to under- 
take the conquest of ISTorway, which had elected its former governor, 
hereditary King. After a campaign of 11 days, he compelled tiie 
prince Christian Frederick to make a treaty at Moss, August 11, 1811, 
by which Norway recognized tde conqueror as crown prince of 
Norway November 1, 1811. (Charles XI Y, died on the 8th of 
March 1841, in his 81st year. He was succeeded by his son 
Oscar L 

^1 E.UOT, Jean Baptiste, post-master at St. Menehould, born in 
^^ 1763. It was he who recognized Louis XYI, in his flight 
through St. Menehould, and caused him to be arrested at Yarrenes. 
In September, 1Y92, he was chosen member of the Convention from 
the department of the Marne. In September, 1T93, he was sent to 
the northern army. In October of this year, he was taken prisoner 
and carried to Moravia. In November, 1795, he was exchanged at 
Basle with Camus, Beurnoville and others for the daughter of Louis 
XYIj and entered the council of five hundred as an old member of 



60 

the Convention. Dissatisfied witli the moderate system which at 
that time prevailed in France, he became, with Baboeuf, one of the 
leaders of the Jacobin conspiracy, and on this account was arrested 
(May 11, 1796,) but made his escape and fled to Switzerland. He 
was finally acquitted and returned to France. In 1Y96 he was sub- 
prefect at St. Menehould. During the hundred days, he was a 
member of the chamber of deputies. In 1816 he was banished 
from France as a Regicide. On April 11th, 1824, a man died at 
Macon, in France, who had lived several years there in great re- 
tirement, and had called himself Merger. On examination of his 
efiects after his death, he proved to have been Drouot. 

O A U L A.IIN" C O "U I^T. 

||# AULAINCOURT, Armand, Augustin, Louis duke of Yincenza^ 
^^ born at Caulincourt, in 1773, distinguished himself during the 
French revolution, both in diplomatic and military capacities, for 
his integrity, courage, fidelity and address under the most difiicult 
circumstances. He served in the army from the fifteenth year of 
his age, but on the breaking out of the revolution, lost his post of 
stafli' oflicer, and was for some time confined in prison. He then 
served in 1792 as a granadier, and afterwards as a mounted chas- 
seur, but in 1795 was restored by the influence of Hoche, to his 
former rank as captain. Caulaincourt, served with reputation in 
Italy, and began his diplomatic career at Constantinople, whither 
he accompanied Gener Dubayet. In 1801 he was sent on a diplo- 
matic mission to the Emperor Alexander, who always manifested 
esteem ior him and confidenee in him. In 1804 Caulaincourt was 
named Grand Ecuyer, and about this time was stationed on the 
Rhine, where he was employed in counteracting the intrigues of the 
English agents, and particularly the Enghsh Minister at Munich, 
against the life ol the first Consul. With the capture and execu- 
tion of the duke d'Enghien, it has been fully proved that he had 
nothino- to do. In l805 he was made General of division, and re. 
ceived the grand cross of the legion of honor, with the title of duke 
ofYicenza. He was sent as ambassador to St. Petersburg when 
Napoleon was carrying on his plans against Austria. After the 
fall of Prussia, and the treaty of Tilsit, he was four years ambas- 
sador at the Russian court, and received from the Emperor the 
cross of the order of St. Anne, of the first class. He requested his 



61 

recall on the pretext of ill-health, but in reality because he met with 
various mortifications from the Eussian nobility, who were jealous 
of his favor with Emperor Alexander. After returning to rrance5 
in 1811, he accompanied Napoleon, on his unfortunate expedition 
to Eussia in 1812, which he had firmly opposed, and returned with 
him in a sleigh, after nearly perishing with cold. During fourteen 
days Caulaincourt did not leave the Emperor's side. In the cam- 
paign of 1813 Caulaincourt was appointed to negotiate with the 
Eussian and Prussian plenipotentiaries, after the desperate battles 
ofLutzenand Bautzen, and an armistice was the consequence. 
That armistice was soon broken and only prepared the way for the 
victory over I^apoleon at Leipsic. After hostilities have been re- 
moved from Germany to France, Caulaincourt, who had been 
named minister for foreign affairs, was sent to negotiate with t 
allies at Chatillon, but on some success of JSTapoleon, he received 
orders to raise his claims so high that the allies broke off the con- 
ferences and marched to Paris. "When Napoleon abdicated > 
tainebleau, the duke of Yincenza was the chief negotiator on his 
part and signed the treaty of the llth of April between the ex- 
Emperor and the allies. He continued to follow his master until 
his departure from Fon tainebleau, on the 20th of April, and after- 
wards retired to his estate . During the hundred days he held the 
portfolio of foreign affairs, and April 4:th, 1815, issued the cele- 
brated circular to the foreign cabinets, declaring the pacific inten- 
t ons of Napoleon, After the second abdication of the Emperor, the 
duke of Yincenza took an active part as member of the regency, but 
the return of the King terminated his public career. He passed the 
rest of his life alternately at Paris and on his estate, occupied with 
the education of his children, and died in 1828. 

[EY, Michael, duke of Elchingen, prince of Moscow, marshal 
and peer ol France, was born in lYOQ, at Sarre Louis, in the 
department of the Moselle, he was of humble origin, and, at an 
early age entered the military service. From a private hussar, he 
rose by degres to the rank of captain, in 1Y94, when his courage and 
military skill were observed by General Kleber, who gave him the 
command of a corps of 500 men, and in 1796 appointed him his 



62 

adjutant general. He soon surpassed the expectations whicli lie had 
excited, and in lY96, at the battle of Rednitz, was made general of 
brigade. l!Totwithstanding his rank, his impetuous courage often led 
him to expose his person like a private soldier. He contributed 
essentially to the victory of ISTeuwied in 1Y97. In 1Y98 was made 
general of division. As such he commanded on the Rhine in 1Y99, 
and by an able diversion at Manheim, contributed to tlie victory of 
Massena, at Zurich, over the Russians under General Korsakoff. 
Ney also distinguished himself under Moreau, particularly at 
Hohenliriden. In 1802, he was sent ambassador to the Helvetic 
republic. He opened the campaign of 1805 against Austria by a 
brilliant victory at Elchingen, and brought about the capitulation of 
Ulm. He occupied the Tyrol, and marched on to Carinthia when 
he was stopped in his career by the peace of Pressburg. In 1806 
and 180Y he fought at Jena, and, after the capture of Magdeburg, 
at Eylaii and Friedland. 1808, he maintained his reputation in 
Spain. Napoleon recalled him, but kept him at a distance till the 
commencement of hostilities against Russia, when he received the 
chief command of the third division of the imperial forces. At the 
battle of Moscow, Kapoleon gave him the well deserved title of 
le Jjy^ave de braves (bravest of the brave). After the burning of 
Moscow, he led the van of the army, and, by his masterly conduct, 
prevented its utter destruction. On this occasion, his ability was 
perhaps more strikingly manifested than at any former period. The 
Emperor made him Prince of Moscow, and Alexander confirmed 
the title on his visit to Paris in 1814. He fought with his wonted 
valor at Leipsic, where he received a wound, and afterwards at 
Hanau. When the enemy entered France, he disputed every step 
of their progress. When Paris was taken, and the Emperor was 
vacillating, Ney was the first who ventured to suggest to him that 
the contest would soon assume the character of a civil war, unless it 
was brought by a speedy termination. Thus he had an important 
influence upon l^apoleon's abdication. After this event, Ney took 
the oath of allegiance to the King, was made a peer and received the 
cross of St. Louis. He enjoyed the most marked distinction at court 
and appeared entirely devoted to the Bourbons. When !N^apoleon 
landed, on his return from Elba, Ney collected considerable force, 
was appointed its commander, and, with many assurances of his zeal 
and fidelity to the King, marched against the invader. But soon 



63 

noticing the desertion of his soldiers, and their inclination for N"apo- 
leon, he regarded the cause of the Bonrbons as lost, and receiving 
an invitation from the late Emperor, he joined him at Lyons, on the 
13th of March, and thus opened his way to Paris. In the war of 
1815, J^apoleon gave him the command of his left wing, which en- 
gaged with the English at Quatre-Brass. The charge made by Gen- 
eral Gourgaud, from the lips of JSTapoleon himself, that Ney's con- 
duct in this engagement was the cause of all the disasters of the 
campaign, has been fully refuted by Gamot by means of a copy of 
the written orders which the marvshal received on that fatal day. At 
"Waterloo, he led the attack on the enemy's center, and after five 
horses had been killed under him, remained last upon the bloody 
field. Hii5 clothes were full of bullet holes, and he fought on foot 
till night, iu the midst of the slain. After the defeat, he returned 
to Paris, declaring in plain terms that all was lost. On the return of 
the King, ISTey was included in the decree of July 24, 1815. For a 
considerable time he remained concealed in the castle of a friend at 
Aurilac in Upper Auvergne. During an entertainment given by 
his friend, one of the guests observed a splendid sabre. The account 
of it reached the ears of the sub-prefect, and it was immediately 
recognized as the sabre of I^ey. The castle was searched, the mar- 
shal taken and imprisoned on the fifth of August. ISTey might have 
escaped with ease, but he was confident of acquittal. He was 
brought before a court martial, which declared itself incompetent 
to take cognizance of his case on the 10th of ISTovember. He was 
tried before the chamber of peers, where the minister, the duke de 
Richelieu, was eager for his punishment. His advocate was Dupin. 
The twelfth article of the capitulation of Paris, signed July 1, 1815, 
promising a general amnesty, was quoted in his lavor ; but Welling- 
ton afiirmed that this was not the true construction of the article. 
Notwithstanding the remonstrances of marshal Davoust, who had 
made the treaty, and who explained it in favor of Ney, he was 
sentenced to death, on the 8th of December, by 166 votes against 
IT. "With calmness which had distinguished him through the whole 
trial, he listened to the sentence ; but when the person who read it, 
came to his title — he interrupted him — " "What need of titles now? 
I am Michael Ney, and soon shall be a handful of dust." "When the 
assistance of a priest was ofiered him, he replied, " I need no priest 
to teach me how to die, I have learned it in the school of battle.'' 



64 

He permitted, however, tlie curate of St Sulpice to accompany him 
to the scaffold, and compelled him to enter the carriage first, saying, 
" You mount before me now, sir, but. I shall soonest reach a higher 
region." On the Yth of December, 1815, at nine o'clock A. M., he 
was shot in the garden of Luxemburg. When an attempt was made 
to blind-fold him, he tore away the bandage, and indignantly ex- 
claimed, " Have you forgotten that for twenty-six years I have 
lived among bullets." Then turning to the soldiers, he solemnly 
declared that he had never been a traitor to his country, and laying 
his hand upon his heart, called out with a steady voice — " Aim true 
France forever ! Fire ! Marshal Ney left four sons. 

OOUVIOIV ST. C^^JEl. 

^■OUYlOl^ ST. CYR, Laurent, a French marshal, born at Toul, 
81 April 13, 1Y64, died in Hyeres, March 10, 1830. He studied 
the fine arts, but after August 10, 1782 enlisted among the volun- 
teers who rushed to the invaded frontier. Being elected caj^tain by 
his companions, he was attached to the stafi" of General Custine, and 
in the course of one year rose to the rank of general of division. In 
1Y96, he commanded one of the divisions of the army of the Rhine 
under Moreau. In 1798, he was sent to Eome to reestablish disci- 
pline in the army, which had nearly revolted against Massena, and 
succeeded in this, but the commissaries of the convention procured 
his recall After the 18th Brumaire, he served under Moreau, and 
defeated Kray at Biberach. In 1801, he was sent as ambassador to 
Spain, and in 1802, commanded the French army of observation in 
southern Italy. He had proved too independent in his conduct and 
sentiments to please Napoleon, who assigned him to employment 
which gave him no opportunity of gaining distinction. In 1808, he 
was sent to Catalonia, and relieved Barcelona in spite of the scanty 
measures placed at his disposal, but being dissatisfied with the 
treatment he received at the hands of the Emperor, he sent in his 
resignation and left his post without waiting for his successor. This 
being considered a breach of discipline, he was cashiered and 
ordered to his country seat, where he remained for two years in a 
kind of imprisoment. In 1811, he was called back to service, com- 
manded a corps which invaded Russia, and defeated Prince 
,Wittgenstein at Polotzk, on the Duna, August 7. 1812; for this 



65 

victory he was made marshal. During 1813, he made a heroic stand 
at Dresden, signing at last, an honorable capitulation. This, hoM^- 
ever, was not sanctioned bj Prince Schwartzenbei-g, and he and his 
troops were sent prisoners to Austria. He consequently took no 
part in the events which marked the fall of the Empire. He gave 
in his adhesion to the Bourbons, and on the second restoration, be- 
came minister of war under Talleyrand ; and again, September 12th 
1817. He retired in 1821, and devoted his leisure hours to the 
preparation of his memoirs — the last volumes were published after 
his death, in 1831. 

JjUlASALLE, Antoine, Charles Ludwig, count of Lasalle, was born 
^^ in 1775 at Metz. While yet very young he was made an 
officer in an Alsace regiment. During the French revolution he 
entered as a common soldier and was Kellerraann's aid-de-camp in 
Italy. In 1797 at the capture of Brescia, he was made Escacleron 
chef. He went with I^apoleon to Egypt, and in 1798 at the battle 
of the Pyramids was made a colonel for his bravery. In 1801 he 
was advanced to the rank of l)rigadier general. He led, in 1805, 
the dragoons against Austria and contributed greatly towards the 
taking of Prince Hohenhole at Prentzlau. He concluded the capitu- 
lation of Stettin, and was made general of division. In 1808, he 
distinguished himself in Spain, and especially in the battle of 
Medina del Rioseco. Pie showed extraordinary coolness and 
courage at the baltle of Esslingen, in 1809, and was severely 
wounded. He perished gloriously at the battle of Wagram. Gen- 
eral Lasalle was a brave soldier and highly res})ected by his officers 
and soldiers whom he commanded and so often led to battle. 

Errata.— In the second line of Marshal Soult for 1790 read 1769. 




The biographies of "ISTapoleon and his Marshals,*" are arranged 
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